Half Time Adventuring

Half-Time Adventuring (HTA): An alternative to Retirement or Early Retirement

Traditionally, people have thought of 'retirement' as something for the old and unhealthy, who are 65 or above. But if we were to follow the state's definition of 'retirement' as a time for us to start pursuing our own interests, many of us would be either too unhealthy or have lost most survival years to do so. At 65, most people would suffer from one or more chronic illnesses. At 65, most would live less than 25 more years, of which many may be in need of Long-Term Care (LTC).

On the other hand, a growing number of young professionals, especially from the middle-class, are in favor of early retirement. Some luckier ones had managed to accumulate sufficient assets as young as below 40, and had invested the money in a way that generates a lifelong regular income that can sustain their needs. They never need to work again by living within this income. Many of these early retirees have stopped working altogether or earn a small, irregular income, on which they don't depend, from freelance writing. Most time, they travel around their country or internationally.

For the majority of people who aren't lucky enough to be able to accumulate so much assets that allow them to not need to work for life, there is a Middle Path, which I term half-time adventuring. To do this, you work during half the month, and travel during the other half.

Of course, in order to do this, you need to work in a job that allows you that flexibility. Better still, you should be self-employed so that you need not report to anyone except yourself. You may be a property agent, a freelance accountant, lawyer, or consultant, or a web designer. You may not necessarily need a job that can be done fully online, from anywhere in the world where there is internet connection. But what you need is a job that doesn't require you all 4 weeks in a month. This way, you will be able to be away for travel for 1-2 weeks, and work during the other weeks, every month.

In the subsequent postings I shall explain how this could be done.