The Easy Life or The Good Life?

I can't complain about my life too much right now, it is a typical middle class life with bills to pay and a job to do. But I am just surviving, not really living. I also don't have 'The Easy Life' or 'The Good Life' either. I am stuck and there is no path to obtaining millions of dollars (besides winning the lottery) or relaxing on some beach without a care in the world. There would be more to it than just doing nothing though.

I ask this because I am drawing up an unemployment plan for what to do when my current job goes away at some undetermined time in the future, and how to proceed to make more happiness with the next job I have. I like having a plan, and it is easier to think about it now instead of when you are watching the bank account go down each month trying to maintain the middle class lifestyle that isn't sustainable without a job.

The easy life the way I would envision it would be to travel the world by bike, backpack around to different places, camp in national parks, visit family members and friends all over the place, relax at the beach, buy a sail boat and anchor out. It would be a simpler life, interesting, and more exciting. The only thing I would stress about is finding food to eat, a bathroom, and a place to sleep. Although I don't expect that will be hard to do with the current state of development.
Living on $5,000 a year, on purpose: Meet America's 'intentional poor'


There are some ways to make money when doing this from some ideas that I have, but I wouldn't expect to make much, and it wouldn't be reliable. I could also see myself volunteering for the Red Cross or some other organization from time to time. The downside would be that I would have to get rid of a bunch of 'stuff' that is taking up space in my house to move out, and you would never feel financially stable. I don't have enough money saved to spend $5,000 a year for the rest of my life even...then again millions of other people have the same problem without any savings, which is what I went through 10 years ago.

The other option is to start my own business and become an entrepreneur. I have two ideas that I could develop enough to put on Kickstarter and let them succeed or fail. I also have a food idea that I could start-up just like thousands of other food vendors too. And, while it would be hard work in the first few years, the only way I see achieving the 'good life' is through this way. What I would end up with when (if) I am successful is another question. And you are still left with the money dilemmas unless you have made a few million, and then they are just different ones.





This question kind of goes with the What is Success thread I made a few months ago, but how much do people think about this when picking a major in college, or in the job market? Which option is the better one in terms of happiness? I thought the goal in this society was to make a lot of money to buy the big house, nice car, and travel in style.* And it would still be nice, but there are only a few career paths you can take in order to get that lifestyle if you aren't born into it.

*(There is the whole relationship and kid thing most people do, but that is a different topic.)

 

I can't answer your question other than what works for me.
I never aspired to "be" anything. No one encouraged me to develop my strengths or went out of their way to expose me to new experiences. I left home at 18 to do this for myself.
Money never meant anything to me other than having enough to pay my bills. I have been alone and really poor and those were some of the happiest days of my life. When I was younger, I was considered fairly desirable and some men of wealth offered marriage. I found that notion repulsive as I did not love them. Family (or your tribe--family & friends) is everything to me. Without people to love and who love me I am poor.
With the strength that I garner from my tribe I can reach out to the huge world beyond my tribe and try to contribute in whatever small way I can.
I don't understand the concept of "stuff." Stuff weighs me down, physical baggage, emotional baggage. A big house, a fancy car, the best this, the latest that.
I like a good pair of shoes, a favourite jeans jacket, a good haircut. Most important of the "things" is the beauty all around me in and of the world (sights sounds, smells). Kindness for the sake of it. Lack of bitterness. A minimum of complaining without offering an alternative. Peacefulness. Harmony. Swimming in the ocean...It goes on. Most of it is not material goods that makes a wealthy life for me.