I'm 34, and tired of working.

[RaistlinZ]

At the ripe old age of 34 I've decided that I'm tired of working a 9 to 5. 2013 was like 2012, and 2014 is looking to be more of the same.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a bad life, per se. I'm single, no kids, have a rock-stable job and make a decent living ($75,000). But I'm just not going anywhere. I can't envision the next 30 years doing more of the same until I'm too old/tired to get up in the morning.

I'd love to transition out of the rat race and doing something enjoyable. Maybe the proverbial "mid-life crisis" is hitting me early. D: The only time I really feel free and alive is when I take cross country road trips and explore. I'd love to find a job that allows me to venture out and see more of America.

But I gotta do something. I HAVE to. I'm tired of not doing anything with my life. I'm tired of waking up early fighting D.C. traffic, sitting at my desk dealing with other people's issues, hoping for a promotion or recognition year after year and my only friends being people I know from work.

Anyway, I know I'm ranting without purpose. Maybe it's just the holiday blues, but we're 5 days into the new year and I'm already feeling depressed. Did anyone leave the daily grind for good last year, or planning to this year? How did you do it? I'm yearning to do it - to do something, anything, because I can't keep going on going nowhere.


Cliffs:

• 34 years old, single, no kids
• Feel like I'm going nowhere
• Cannot spend another year feeling depressed

 

[Jadow]

you need to start a family

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

You have to decide what's most important to you. You are single so, you don't have to settle for a paycheck. There are many things you could do, what do you want to do? What are your talents, not your skills?

 

[Engineer]

I know the feeling and I'm 11 years past you AND have a family. If I didn't have a family, I would probably be more brave and venture out and do other things (or start my own business). Without a family, you are certainly more flexible to do more than most of that do have them. I don't know what to tell you other than I know mostly how you feel.

Good luck....

 

[Imp]

Things you need:
1. Mortgage
2. Wife
3. Kids

Each one should force you to carry a job and limit your ability to quit.

Or do this:
http://youtu.be/PBcLvJdrbro

Followed by this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJh5wdvdfVE

Seriously, you have a few years on me, but all other items stand. No kid, No wife, no house, no desire to engage in the rat race -- I'm defective according to society. I just want enough money to pay the rent, eat reasonably well, and have a little fun money. Ideally, I'd like to travel, but if I keep a job, it's 3 weeks of vacation a year (i.e. to travel), 49 weeks of dread.

 

[Xcobra]

I feel the same way as you (except I am 27). I am looking to doing something charitable and take a few months off and then go back and look for something different. Good luck and I know how you feel!

 

[Leros]

What kind of skills do you have? Are you willing to move?

 

[IEC]

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
-Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., 26th President of the United States

 

[TallBill]

Sigh, partly makes me want to stay in the military. I had a 5 year break, but still could retire at 45. I'd never be wealthy but definitely financially secure.

 

[gorcorps]

you need to start a family

Things you need:
1. Mortgage
2. Wife
3. Kids

Each one should force you to carry a job and limit your ability to quit.

Or do this:
http://youtu.be/PBcLvJdrbro

Followed by this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJh5wdvdfVE

Seriously, you have a few years on me, but all other items stand. No kid, No wife, no house, no desire to engage in the rat race -- I'm defective according to society. I just want enough money to pay the rent, eat reasonably well, and have a little fun money. Ideally, I'd like to travel, but if I keep a job, it's 3 weeks of vacation a year (i.e. to travel), 49 weeks of dread.

He doesn't need kids. Bored is better than stressed and broke

 

[Imp]

He doesn't need kids. Bored is better than stressed and broke

Ah, but if he has kids, then he'd have the stigma of being a deadbeat, family leaving dad guilt-tripping him for the rest of his life every time he thinks about quitting his job again.

 

[glenn1]

At the ripe old age of 34 I've decided that I'm tired of working a 9 to 5. 2013 was like 2012, and 2014 is looking to be more of the same.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a bad life, per se. I'm single, no kids, have a rock-stable job and make a decent living ($75,000). But I'm just not going anywhere. I can't envision the next 30 years doing more of the same until I'm too old/tired to get up in the morning.

I'd love to transition out of the rat race and doing something enjoyable. Maybe the proverbial "mid-life crisis" is hitting me early. D: The only time I really feel free and alive is when I take cross country road trips and explore. I'd love to find a job that allows me to venture out and see more of America.

But I gotta do something. I HAVE to. I'm tired of not doing anything with my life. I'm tired of waking up early fighting D.C. traffic, sitting at my desk dealing with other people's issues, hoping for a promotion or recognition year after year and my only friends being people I know from work.

Anyway, I know I'm ranting without purpose. Maybe it's just the holiday blues, but we're 5 days into the new year and I'm already feeling depressed. Did anyone leave the daily grind for good last year, or planning to this year? How did you do it? I'm yearning to do it - to do something, anything, because I can't keep going on going nowhere.


Cliffs:

• 34 years old, single, no kids
• Feel like I'm going nowhere
• Cannot spend another year feeling depressed

Find yourself a passion to devote time and mental energy towards, making monthly meals for homeless shelters, whatever.

 

[Humpy]

Learn how to generate a passive income. Learn Spanish. Sell all your shit. Buy an old van/RV. Drive south. Be nice.

 

[Bird222]

At the ripe old age of 34 I've decided that I'm tired of working a 9 to 5. 2013 was like 2012, and 2014 is looking to be more of the same.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a bad life, per se. I'm single, no kids, have a rock-stable job and make a decent living ($75,000). But I'm just not going anywhere. I can't envision the next 30 years doing more of the same until I'm too old/tired to get up in the morning.

I'd love to transition out of the rat race and doing something enjoyable. Maybe the proverbial "mid-life crisis" is hitting me early. D: The only time I really feel free and alive is when I take cross country road trips and explore. I'd love to find a job that allows me to venture out and see more of America.

But I gotta do something. I HAVE to. I'm tired of not doing anything with my life. I'm tired of waking up early fighting D.C. traffic, sitting at my desk dealing with other people's issues, hoping for a promotion or recognition year after year and my only friends being people I know from work.

Anyway, I know I'm ranting without purpose. Maybe it's just the holiday blues, but we're 5 days into the new year and I'm already feeling depressed. Did anyone leave the daily grind for good last year, or planning to this year? How did you do it? I'm yearning to do it - to do something, anything, because I can't keep going on going nowhere.


Cliffs:

• 34 years old, single, no kids
• Feel like I'm going nowhere
• Cannot spend another year feeling depressed

Welcome to the club. If you figure out the answer let the rest of us know. Good luck!

 

[lightpants]

1. move out of DC
2. buy boat
3. Spend as much time as you can on the water, ocean, lake, or bay
you will find what you are looking for.

 

[VAisforlovers]

Girlfriend?

 

[homebrew2ny]

34, single making $75,000 a year?

For the next 6 years live off of $30K a year, then after that take the $270,000 you saved and invest it in to doing something you love and can make money with.

 

[Cattlegod]

you need some hobbies.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Learn how to generate a passive income. Learn Spanish. Sell all your shit. Buy an old van/RV. Drive south. Be nice.

The thing is, there are more options than either staying at a job you hate or, going on welfare. There are many many fulfilling jobs that pay enough to live on. You don't have to volunteer unless that's important to you. You don't have to work in a cube with the single goal of making enough money to retire at 40 so you can begin life either.

 

[SSSnail]

Take a vacation to Macau for a week, or two, and if you're still depressed after that, then just off yourself.

BTW: this is ATOT, not L&R, take your Looking for Love letter over there

 

[Jimzz]

Things you need:
1. Mortgage
2. Wife
3. Kids

Each one should force you to carry a job and limit your ability to quit.

Or do this:
http://youtu.be/PBcLvJdrbro

Followed by this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJh5wdvdfVE

Seriously, you have a few years on me, but all other items stand. No kid, No wife, no house, no desire to engage in the rat race -- I'm defective according to society. I just want enough money to pay the rent, eat reasonably well, and have a little fun money. Ideally, I'd like to travel, but if I keep a job, it's 3 weeks of vacation a year (i.e. to travel), 49 weeks of dread.

I have all 3 but also feel like the op so me and wife made a plan...

House will be paid off in 14-15months from now, down to 110k. Net worth right now is around 880k, should be in the low million by that time.

Wife also feels the same so we save more than we spend.

Only 1 kid and he's about to turn 5 so once he's in school fulltime cost/time will stay more fixed.

Me and wife are late 30's and there is no way in hell I am working a BS job in my 50's. We plan to work-retire. Find jobs that still make enough to cover the basic's till our 401ks and other investments are open and enjoy life and the job we take. If the job sucks we move on.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I'd say 75% of the workforce feels the same as you.

It's a rat race grind with the end goal of having 2-3 weeks of fun a year while on vacation - the rest of the time you can live at your job, pay your taxes, and do whats best for the rest of society.

We certainly appreciate your support.

I was not put on this earth to commute 2hrs a day & spend 9-10hrs at work, just so I can pay out over 45% to taxes, and support our Govt and its populace.

Ecuador, Mexico, Costa Rica - all are looking good and I'm hopeful to be retired at age 45 or sooner.

Since you have no kids, take a chance and change careers. Go back to school and learn to be a park ranger or something you would enjoy doing.

 

[Ruptga]

You have to decide what's most important to you. You are single so, you don't have to settle for a paycheck. There are many things you could do, what do you want to do? What are your talents, not your skills?

This is a line of thinking you should follow. You don't have a family tying you down; you're making enough money that you should be able to do almost anything you want with, at most, a year or two of planning and saving.

You say you want to get out, but do you really need to go across the whole country? Maybe you just need to get out of the specific niche you're in. Could you be happy if you worked from home 60-100% of the time? Could you be happy if your work regularly took you across the state, the country? Could you be happy if you worked from an office but were always dealing with new people and new projects? Do you have a new field or line of work that you know you want to move into, and how could you make that work?

 

[halik]

you need to start a family

This is probably the worst advice I've read on this forum to date. Akin to getting married as solution to relationship troubles...

 

[Dr. Detroit]

34, single making $75,000 a year?

For the next 6 years live off of $30K a year, then after that take the $270,000 you saved and invest it in to doing something you love and can make money with.

Did you forget about taxes?