Oh, trust me, I've definitely drank deeply of the pleasures of life and plan to continue down that road, just on a smaller scale. Seven course meal with wine pairings at Chez TJ in Mountain View when I did my Google on-site interview was definitely worth it.
I'm also in my early 40's. I've been working nearly 20 years, I'm just looking at another 10 years in this job, and I don't think I can take it. The being stuck behind a desk for a majority of my waking hours during my 20's and 30's definitely resonates, and despite my passion for software, I (relatively) recently re-learned just how good physical exertion feels.
So yeah, I cut back on a number of things to reduce my monthly burn rate, but I'm not suffering by any means. If anything, I'm happier now with less, and seriously considering if I need to continue working, or maybe I can coastFIRE. The possibility has not escaped me that maybe it's just not the right job for me, and perhaps I'd be better off consulting or even trying micropreneurship, but on a more relaxed schedule.
I do wish that when I was laid off in 2001 (my early 20's) I had hiked the PCT instead of trying to start a consulting business. Burned through my savings, and I probably would have just as much money at the end of the PCT through-hike, and definitely been happier.
I'm also in my early 40's. I've been working nearly 20 years, I'm just looking at another 10 years in this job, and I don't think I can take it. The being stuck behind a desk for a majority of my waking hours during my 20's and 30's definitely resonates, and despite my passion for software, I (relatively) recently re-learned just how good physical exertion feels.
So yeah, I cut back on a number of things to reduce my monthly burn rate, but I'm not suffering by any means. If anything, I'm happier now with less, and seriously considering if I need to continue working, or maybe I can coastFIRE. The possibility has not escaped me that maybe it's just not the right job for me, and perhaps I'd be better off consulting or even trying micropreneurship, but on a more relaxed schedule.
I do wish that when I was laid off in 2001 (my early 20's) I had hiked the PCT instead of trying to start a consulting business. Burned through my savings, and I probably would have just as much money at the end of the PCT through-hike, and definitely been happier.