As the two childhood friends settled into comfortable chairs in the balcony with their drinks, the full moon came out of hiding from behind white fluffy clouds. It was a clear and bright night sky. The quiet breeze was comforting. They could see tall trees gently rubbing each other in the distance. Faint sounds of women laughing and children playing wafted from inside the house.
Arun (taking a sip) — I have long wanted to talk to you about this. Why did you retire early? Isn’t it about ten years now?
Suresh (glancing at the moon) — Yes. That would be a boring personal story. I wouldn’t want to go into that.
A — I insist Suresh. We have talked about it before, in the passing. But never got down to it.
S — Well…
A — We know not many people retire early. If there is something to learn from your experience, I would like to hear it.
S — Quite a few do it, for various reasons. We just don’t get to know or hear them. But, to talk about about it would end up being a boring monologue, and, for you, hearing me talk about myself can quickly become disagreeable.
A (taking another sip) — Lets say I am in a relaxed & receptive state of mind to hear out what you have to say. I am also curious if I can learn something.
S — If you put it that way…
A — First things first. Tell me, don’t you find it boring? You had an active work life before. Now you got so much time, perhaps more than what you need. Aren’t you bored?
S — I have learned to live with it. I am still learning. Of course, it was not easy in the beginning. But, over time, one learns to manage it.
A — So, you do waste time?
S — Depends on how you define it.
A — Just being idle and not doing much, isn’t that a waste of time?
S — It can be. Is anyone 100% productive? I have my stretches of idle time. But I avoid considering them wasted.
A — How and why?
S — The mind is seldom idle. Even if I am physically idle, I often find myself thinking about or mulling something or other. And it turns out to be useful later.
A — So how exactly do you spend your time?
S — Pursuing hobbies & interests, reading, meeting friends now & then, spending time with family etc….nothing extraordinary.
A — But surely you must be something worthwhile, atleast now & then.
S (smiling) — I do. Thats why I quit.
A — Lets get to that in a while. But, before that, let me ask you the big question….how do you get along without work? Doesn’t it provide some meaning & purpose, besides helping one make a living?
S — When one says ‘its enough’ at some point, money stops being a concern. You start adjusting your lifestyle to the means available. Your needs & wants start adjusting to whats plausible & available. I don’t exactly live like a hermit. As for meaning & purpose, work, as we define it today, is not the only way to find them. Of course, for some, work is a lifelong passion, and it provides purpose & satisfaction. But for many, isn’t work a millstone?
A — I see your point. So, you get your purpose & meaning in other ways?
S — I think so
A — Ok. Now, lets gets deeper. You said you do this & that…nothing extraordinary. But thats not quite convincing, persuasive or interesting.
S (winking) — Why do you want me to convince or persuade you? Or make it interesting?
A — Just trying to understand how you made the transition…
S — First there was madness. Then a method emerged.
A — What’s that?
S — I call it the 1/3rd life.
A — Don’t be mysterious…spell it out
S — I try to spend my time learning, thinking & doing…1/3rd each.
A — Interesting. Were you not able to do that before you retired?
S (laughing) — Arun, I didn’t know you could be sarcastic.
A (smiling) — I am learning the art from a good friend.
(they laugh together)
A — Ok, tell me why and how you were not able to live the 1/3rd life earlier.
S — Doesn’t the typical work life provide little time for general learning & thinking? Of course, one thinks & learns at work, but thats largely work-related…to make one more productive at work. There is little time to indulge, wander, experiment or go on an adventure, so to speak. Some people balance work & life very well, but I couldn’t.
A — What exactly you wanted to do, but couldn’t?
S — Read, think & write, for instance. Travel, learn music, run marathons, learn some obscure art or skill which fascinates me….the list is long.
A — And your 10 or 12 hour work day, 6 days a week, didn’t allow that?
S — I think so.
A — I would largely tend to agree, but I am also curious to learn what you have gained by retiring early. That would clinch your argument. And I might also retire early.
S — I am neither arguing nor trying to convince you. I am just telling you what happened.
A — Ok, tell me more about your 1/3rd life. How is it better or enriching?
S — I have more leisure, freedom and time to learn, think & do as I please.
A — To do whatever fascinates you?
S — Yes. I don’t & cannot strictly compartmentalize learning, thinking & doing. One learns while doing, does while thinking, and thinks while learning. But I found it useful to dedicate some time to each of them. Each impacts and helps the other two.
A — Ok, give me some examples
S — Take reading. One learns more by reading eclectically. There are other ways of learning too, like observing, listening etc. But just reading a lot of books may not be helpful. It is very helpful to dedicate time just to think about what one has read. It also helps to dedicate time to write about what one has read & thought. The deliberate acts of thinking & writing often bring out gaps and flaws in one’s learning. Going further, one can also experiment with different reading, thinking & writing styles. Thats one example of a 1/3rd lifestyle.
A — What else, other than reading & writing?
S — The idea applies to any activity. Consider life as one giant experiment comprising of many micro-experiments. Travel, investing, running, politics, religion…one can experiment with whatever one is curious about. One needs time and a method. Dedicating time for learning, thinking & doing, and mixing them up now & then, helps.
A — How would you rate your success?
S — Of course, some experiments fail. Some fade away. I lose interest mid-way. I get distracted. Or I simply fail in learning or doing something. Failures help me course-correct. I learn i am not suitable for politics. I learn I cannot be as rich as Warren Buffett. I learn running 6 marathons a year is not my cup of tea. I learn all religions are fascinating. As long as the experiments and their potential failures are not life-threatening, financially ruinous, etc., I can continue my indulgences. Successes and failures are personal scorecards with no external benchmarks.
A — Other people’s opinions don’t matter?
S — They do matter. But not beyond a point. And certainly not to the extent of changing myself beyond my own recognition. I learn from others all the time.
A — Have you thought about what you have missed?
S — Of course. I could have been richer. I could have gathered more material goods. I could have been famous or wielded power, at least in small circles. Today I am obscure. And I prefer it that way.
A — Sour grapes?
S (shrugging) — Possible. You are free to interpret it anyway you wish. Perhaps I didn’t deserve more. Perhaps I toned down my expectations & lifestyle to suit what little I could get. But I don’t have many regrets. In fact, regret minimisation is an idea I have pursued in choosing my micro-experiments.
A — Have you done many such experiments?
S — Quite a few. Being independent & free helps. But, certainly, I could do more.
A — Do you want to?
S — I have become choosy over the years. And perhaps ‘doing’ is not getting as much due as learning and thinking.
A — What’s been your most dangerous or interesting experiments?
S (winking) — I can’t divulge some, which are for my own consumption. The rest and mundane…we can talk about them sometime.
A (smiling) — Ok. But, going back to your idea of 1/3rd life…that does sound intriguing. Are you sure one cannot pursue that while juggling a hectic work life and other personal commitments?
S — You can try. But, preferably, you would need lots of leisure. You need freedom to choose & pursue ideas that fascinate you. You need financial independence. You need the luxury of being bored now & then. Bosses, customers, other stakeholders, salary, other people’s opinions, external benchmarks etc. are often restraining. I wanted to get off the treadmill which goes nowhere. And at least go somewhere.
A — So you have no regrets of retiring early?
S — I do have some, but they pale into insignificance when compared to what I have gained instead.
A — Makes sense, but…
S — I am aware this lifestyle won’t suit everyone. I might have made mistakes, committed blunders or missed opportunities I am not aware of. I have tread on other people’s toes in choosing this way. Perhaps I was selfish. But, its one life…
A — Whats next?
S — Just more of the same I guess. I have not had any new revelations.
A (leaning forward to pick up his glass) — One more?
S — Sure.
The bright moon was sailing steadily among the white clouds. The cool breeze was refreshing. The night was still young.
