I know I'm 40, but I have been reading about the good life and retirement planning ever since my mid 30s. And after starting this blog, I wanted to read more so that I have enough references to write about in the blog. So last weekend, I went to the National Library and borrowed a bunch of books to read up. I wanted to retire, but I was also not sure whether it was the right thing to do at the moment. So I thought, researching it would be a great idea.
The reason I read is for the following reason:
1. To see if I am making the right move
2. To see if there is anything that I may have left out in my checklist to retire
3. To know more about other people's experience and learn from their mistakes
4. Learning about what defines a good life.
5. To show the readers of this blog that I am serious about this early retirement thingy!
And the book "The Secret of Shelter Island" by Alexander Green was just what I needed. It inspires me to start a reference link on the right on Recommended Readings for a Good Life. In fact, this book also inspires me to listen to Mozart Sonata, and recommended more books to be added in my reading list. And that is what a good book does, lead you to more things and widen your horizon.
Besides reading about finance preparation for retirement, I think it is equality important to read about why you would want to retire early. And many a times for me, it is about living a more quality life, a good life, your life. Which also references another book on the Recommended Reading list "The Importance of Living" by Lin Yutang.
When you retire, you will have so much time on your hand, and maybe not so much cash. So what would you be spending your time on? Do you have a plan in mind? Are you going to make good use of your time and life after retiring? Or are you just going to waste it away mindlessly?
For me, it would mainly revolved around cooking and eating, exercising, reading, writing and creating craft. It would also mean trying out new things, learning new things, volunteering, and maybe even meeting new people and trying my hands at socialising.
Travelling would be limited to cheaper destination, with maybe a part time job to support that indulgence. I wish there were more scenic places in Singapore for me to hike in, but that is unlikely going to happen anytime soon.
I have fantasise about maybe living a year or so overseas just to experience living near nature. Maybe I may even move back to Penang to live in my little apartment. I know I would enjoy fixing it up into a little cosy place and spending the remaining days of my life in my beloved hometown. Maybe even start up an Air B&B business!
There are so many possibilities when you are not tied down to working all the time! So for now, I am just in the phase of reading and planing and researching. Maybe by June I will start living it and try it out for 6 months of a 1 year just to see whether I am ok with it. Whether I can manage with so much time to myself, and whether I can manage down sizing my life. No more restaurant indulgence, no more multiple trips overseas. I guess those are the only things that would set me back. But if I do work part-time, I don't think that pose much of a problem to me :)
So yeah, when are you going to start your own journey?
Maybe we can even plan together and start a community of people who retire early, or just people who learn to enjoy the good life?
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