Disclaimer: Any resemblance in this article to you or anyone you know is PURELY coincidental
Tim Ferriss, author of the
Four-Hour Workweek posed an interesting question to those who frequent his online forum. The question was simply, if you could retire early or even take a mini-retirement, what would you do with your time? Various users submitted sample itineraries of what they would do, others posted actual weekends of fun and frolicking they engaged in, while imagining they were actually in the midst of an early mini-retirement.
If I had such occassion to "mini-retire", I would have NO ISSUE filling my time in ways I desire. For example, here's how last Saturday played out:
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7:00AM - wake up early, eager beager wife is heading to work to log in that precious OT. 2 yo wakes up shortly thereafter which means the fun is about to begin.
8:00AM – 9 yo wakes up which means I better get on breakfast or there’s going to be a local Armageddon.
8:30AM – phone ringing off the hook – my most industrious wife has gotten an appointment for our 2 y.o. with her pediatrician – AT 9:45AM! How in the world??? Oh never mind.
9:30AM – all kids are dressed, teeth brushed, and we’re out the door. 9:45 however will NOT happen
9:55AM – walk in doctor’s office out of breath, thankful I didn’t get a ticket
11:15AM – walk out of the doctor’s office having spoken to her for …oh…5 whole minutes
11:30AM – arrive at church for Saturday prayer. I let the kids play on the playground for awhile when we finish
12:05PM – arrive at Eudora Welty and have the 9 y.o. do some reading. Naturally the 2 y.o. wants to help and proceeds to pull out as many books as she can get her hands on SO FAST…I mean like Matrix fast.
12:40PM – arrive at Old Capitol Museum – tour around THE FIRST FLOOR ONLY. 9 y.o. is studying Mississippi History in Social Studies so I thought I’d make it a little more real for her. Both tykes enjoyed
1:30PM – back home. Must mention 2 y.o. took her afternoon nap IN THE CAR which means I still have no chance of a break.
2:00PM - me and the little ones dig into some pasta leftovers for a late lunch
2:30PM - Mommy’s home!!
2:45PM – 5ish… - a back and forth mixture of daddy-kid interaction including PS2, them reading to me, me reading to them, and singing an endless assortment of kids songs
5:something – 2yo finally takes 2nd nap for the day, I begin my afternoon computer browsing (dealbreaker, wallstreetoasis, facebook, other random blogs)
6:something – wife and I actually talk – adult to adult – good stuff
7:45 – burgers, fries, and CONVERSATION for dinner – TV hasn’t been on for hours, yay
8:45 – 9 y.o. taking bath, 2 y.o. watching youtube videos of elmo, row your boat, etc.
9:30 – 9 y.o. in bed, wife studying Accounting. Reading Dr. Seuss’ “Mr. Brown can Moo” to the 2 y.o.
10:15 - watching the JSU vs. TSU replay on FoxSS. Doing all I can not to check the score on yahoo sports. Wife still hitting the books
11:03 – baby is finally out for the count, KO by rocking chair.
11:30PM - finally crack open my strategy book and begin studying
1AMish – wife interrupts my dream about strategic management and calls me to bed…
6AM – back up, time to get ready for church…
Yup, I think a mini-retirement is just what the doctor ordered...
Feel free to share your ideal or typical day in the comment box!
