Ah the sweet smell of freedom!!! I like the piece if paradise you got yourselves.
The illusion of freedom is a big one. I never really thought of it that way but you're right. I see a lot of people around my work (of which I am a slave, when I want money...but I can come and go as I please and that's another story, cause I still feel enslaved a bit) who just have this sort of lust towards big expensive things which end up locking them up into the "work harder for more money" mode.
An example is the "car freedom" you mentioned. I don't know how many people I work with own leases well over $500... In NY too where insurance is insane.
And all of them complain constantly about the cost of living.
Anyway, nice explaination of what freedom means to you. I agree with all of it.
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed the read and have the same sentiments. Money and freedom are fickle concepts, aren't they? Its like the chicken and the egg; how do we achieve one without the other, right? My freelancing is tricky too. While I can move between clients, work isn't always a guarantee so sometimes I revert back to regular clients for security, even if working for them feels oppressive. Finding balance is key.
We are also familiar with people who always want bigger and better and convince themselves that moving up in life requires "healthy debt". What an oxymoron. We often remind ourselves that if you were to subtract their debt from their savings they would be in the same position we are in or, most likely, worse off.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you find find balance and don't let the job slavery get its claws in too deeply. :)
-Aimee
Thanks Aimee. Yes I think I found myself a nice balance for the whole family...something we will test late spring when we actually move on our piece of paradise and plan to build something to keep warm for next winter!
I am greatful for the path I carved till now, I only worked a 9 to 5 regular office type job for about 5 weeks in my life. And I was able to realise the claws of job slavery were digging in too deep after 8 years of chasing the money! Lost my head abwhile there.... But I'm back on track.
Good luck to you guys too and hopefully you can find Matthew's escape soon!
The tiny house is built right? Go live the dream!
Wow, only 5 weeks of 9 to 5? That's impressive. I think we all fall prey to the allure of money from time to time. Having it makes problem solving seem much easier.
I am glad you have since found balance and are working through challenges. I hope we can arrange Matthew's escape soon too. Ha ha! I almost feel like I am talking about prison break!
Yes! The tiny house is built! With the arrival of our twins we are feeling the need for a little more leg room now. But we have our piece of paradise and are working towards building, tiny house 2.0: slightly less tiny. :D
"Having it (money) makes problem solving seem much easier." Yea, I think that exactly where the illusion lyes....it sure helps but it's super tricky to use money more as a tool than a toy!
I was thinking aboit using a 53' tractor trailer to turn into a slightly bigger tiny house. We mostly want to avoid property tax, not move it around north america!
I'm excited to see the plans for your tiny 2.0!
That is a great observation; being wise enough to understand how to use money as a tool before using it as a toy.
I met someone who made a large(r) tiny house similar to what you have in mind. I haven't had the pleasure of seeing it yet but it sounds lovely. I hope you post your progress.
If want to see a sneak peek of tiny 2.0 we talk about it here. We will be posting updates along the way too.
-Aimee