I'm 26, basically retired, and have no idea what I want to do with my life. How can I find direction?
I have a friend who retired in 1978 - he was 26, and his wife was 22. He was a poker pro in the Navy. Never spent a dime of his paychecks - they went straight to the bank. Paid all his expenses with poker earnings.They have a lot of hobbies - which they do for 4u201312+ years each.I retired in 2024 (at age 40).Note: If you have comments for the OP who retired at age 26, please write a separate answer.How to Retire in Your 30s With $1 Million in the Bank (New York Times article - 9/1/18 - about the FIRE movement).Itu2019s not unusual to have no idea what to do after retirement.Many working-class/middle-class people are used to u201chaving a jobu201d which takes 40u2013120 hrs/week. u2026and thereu2019s a huge vacuum.When I was age 24 (Iu2019m now 51), I started attending college 25th, 35th, and 50th reunion talks (where panels of alumni shared about their lives - writers, politicians, doctors, scientists, househusbands, etcu2026). The guidance from older alumni talking about how it felt to be a writer (or doctor oru2026) for 25u201350 years was very helpful in my own search though possible life paths.People in their 35th reunions who had retired suggested it takes about 3 years to figure out what to do (and u201chow to beu201d).u2026so they suggested preparing three years before retirement.Some people have lots of projects. Projects are the u2026u201cjob replacementu201du2026e.g. angel investors, gardening, helping friends dying of cancer, developing houses, starting schools/hospitals in 3rd world countries, create shelters for battered women, healthy eating, exercise, sports, learn multiple languages, paint, sing, dance, etcu2026In the 1990s, I went to a springboard diving competition at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center where one of the competitors was a 94-yr-old lady (Viola Krahn) - doing some dives I couldnu2019t do. She and a younger 78-yr-old lady dived synchronized and called themselves the u201cDead Ducksu201d. Viola dived until age 101u2013102.In Seattle, a 53-yr-old friend learned his first roundoff-back-handsprings at a Redmond gymnastics center.Jobs/careers donu2019t have to be u201cto pay the billsu201d.Just out of college, I studied to be a high school teacher. One of the guys taking classes had retired from two jobs (and was drawing two pensions from working 20+ years at each one), and was on his way to a third career.In Ohio, one of my high school English teachers made his money in real-estate, and just taught high school u201cfor funu201d.In addition to u201cdoingu201d (which our society seems to focus on), there are ways of u201cbeingu201d.How do you want to experience life?Not in an external sense of climbing Mount Everest, but internally in how you feel, how you think, how you areu2026Itu2019s not just about u201ckeeping busyu201d.Is each day of your life worthwhile or fulfilling?When you finish this life & pass into the next, will you feel that your life experiences (the ups & the downs, internally & externally) were worthwhile?Itu2019s really hard to forecast what will be valuable. Some of the u201cworstu201d experiences in my life (in the short-term), ended up being the most treasured & had the biggest long-term effects.(1) I was suicidally-depressed for 12 years (1986u20131998), but the experience gave me a deeper understanding of living in u201cdarku201d emotional places.Gave me a lot of time to think about what I really wanted in lifeu2026and a deeper empathy for people in depression.(2) I went bankrupt after starting a business which failed. Since I didnu2019t have the money for next monthu2019s rent, I stopped renting, and mostly slept in my car for seven years.Being u201cintentionally homelessu201d, I spent a lot of time with street performers, California festival travelers, international nomads, homeless sleeping on the street (in warm climates, staying a shelter stinks, itu2019s a last resort).Traveling through 40 countries (while almost broke) gave me more exposure to u201cworking classu201d people around the world. If I hadnu2019t gone bankrupt, I never would have stayed in hostels again in the 2024. (20 years after I stayed in them as a teenager).As a child looking forward towards my life, I would not have chosen being (1) suicidal for 12 years (2) going bankrupt and losing decades of saving.However, they are two defining moments of my life, and have helped shape who I am.Failures may be more worthwhile experiences than successes.So HOW do you CHOOSE what paths in life to take in retirement?Some people say u201cpursue your passions.u201dAn alternative view (e.g. in Buddhism & Hinduism) is that passions may be something you want to transcend.[EXCERPT] u201cOn reaching Sahansidal Kanwal (thousand-petalled lotus) the five vices of passion, anger, attachment, greed, and pride will disappear forever.u201d - Spiritual Gems - Radha Soami Satsang Beas, p. 72. [EXCERPT]Spiritual Gems: Radha Soami Satsang Beas: 9788182560390: Amazon.com: Books[EXCERPT] u201cIn Hindu theology, Arishadvarga are the six passions of the mind, which are: kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobh (greed), moha (attachment), mada (pride), and matsarya (jealousy); the negative characteristics of which prevent man from attaining moksha or salvation.u201d [EXCERPT][EXCERPT] u201dIf a person is virtually a prisoner of arishadvargas (the six internal enemies), then his life is completely governed by destiny. As a person moves ahead on the path of Self-Realization, the grip of destiny over him loosens and he gets more and more leverage to change his destiny.u201d [EXCERPT]Arishadvargas - WikipediaA good resource are people who grow up financially secure (u201ctrust fund kidsu201d). Find out how they struggle with life. They often have a very different set of issues than middle-class or working-class people.Too much freedom can be scary.Travel. Many people in the world live on less than $25/month. Quite a few countries have median wages of $50u2013100u2013200u2013400/month.See how people around the world live.If you are retired at 26 (or for some reason u201cfinancially secureu201d), you have many options for how you choose to live life.I like living in a rich country. To me rich means u201cclean wateru201d, u201cclean airu201d, u201ctoilets & sewage systemu201d, u201chealthy foodu201d, u201csomewhat safe environment with police & militaryu201d, u201clibraries, internet, phonesu201d, u201cnot in a war zoneu201d, u201cgood infrastructure.u201dSome friends volunteer to spend 1u20132 years in remote areas of countries where they donu2019t have running water or toilets.Personally I stopped working twice (1990 - age 22, 2024 - age 35) before retirement in 2024 (age 40), so I had some idea what it was like u201cnot to have a job or run a companyu201d.Iu2019ve been involved with non-profits since the late-1980s, and tried to be a non-profit consultant for a few years (but gave up in disgust).Lack of skill in non-profits was really frustrating. Four major problems:(1) u201cDictator directorsu201d - my way or leave(2) u201cPeople not having a voiceu201d - consequence of the above(3) u201cPoor management/financial skillsu201d - too stingy sometimes, and too spendthrift other times. Unable to use skills of their people.(4) u201cHiring poorlyu201dUsually these days I donate money instead of labor (since they waste my time). Often non-profits have plenty of labor, but they are cash-tight.The intentions (of the directors) are often wonderful (help homeless, battered spouses, abused children, disabled veterans, natural disaster victims, migrant refugees, etcu2026), but execution is often miserable.One of my friends said - They are so bad, I just start my own non-profits.u2026however, volunteering in the non-profits can be a great start (for areas you are not familiar with). Listen to the people they are trying to help. Hear what they need. What they like & dislike about the people/organizations that try to help them.It feels good to personally help people.Find people to help.Sometimes we donu2019t reach out to each other enough.Often the person u201cI am trying to helpu201d ends up being the one u201cwho was sent to help meu201d. Karma can be funny strange.Early retirement in your 20s can give you unusual options.One of my friends and his wife both stayed home to take care of their kids. She was mostly responsible for the daytime 12 hours, and he for the nighttime 12 hours. Kids could wake & sleep around the clock (until they started school).Opposite of a 2-career family with babysitters. :-)And lots of free time as a single guy meansu2026the list of activities Iu2019ve tried in life is pretty long (at age 51)u2026Rather than clutter this answer with a list, if anyone wants some examples, I can add them in comments.u00a0- See https://www.quora.com/Im-26-basi...
