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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this a ‘Soft life’

772 replies

Wellthatwasabrupt · 29/07/2026 19:25

And would you want it?

Has Dh, one young Dc and dogs, lives overseas by the beach and countryside, nice house with pool and sea views.
Works 6 hours per week from home. Does all drop offs and pick ups, food shop, dinners, majority to do with Dc and sorting bills. Has a cleaner.
Dh works Mon-Fri -finishes 4.30, no one works weekends.
Days are free based around Dc school drops, coffee with friends, Pilates, yoga, studying or reading if you like, watching Netflix all day if you like, shopping, beach, pool, garden

Would you call this a soft life? Would you like it, be honest?

OP posts:
jsfv · 29/07/2026 19:49

IAmNotMyJobTitle · 29/07/2026 19:27

I’d get bored

Of what?

lightseeker · 29/07/2026 19:48

What is the point of this thread?

YoQuieroVino · 29/07/2026 19:48

I wouldn’t call it a ‘soft life’ because I’ve never heard the phrase and don’t really know what it means.
It sounds nice though, if that’s the sort of thing you like doing.

realitychick67 · 29/07/2026 19:48

I think it sounds great!

Newbornsquareeyes · 29/07/2026 19:47

I think it sounds delightful

WhatNextImScared · 29/07/2026 19:46

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 29/07/2026 19:41

Omg so soft...
I bet her marriage is in great shape....no daily grind pressures to force her to confront the grim reality of how utterly mediocre even the most compentent husband is

I would love this

Edited

hehh that made me laugh

MissFancyDay · 29/07/2026 19:46

I'd love it but I wouldn't do the watching Netflix stuff, I'd have a studio and make art and prints with no pressure.

Popstarrrrr · 29/07/2026 19:45

I mean if we can pick options I'd love it as long as:

  • I can ditch the dogs
  • Be located in a city but still have a pool
  • Earn enough from that 6hrs a week work to financially sustain myself in case I wanted shot of the hubby and get me to a large pension pot
WhatNextImScared · 29/07/2026 19:45

Sounds lush, this is my dream but maybe working about 12-15 hours. In my sector this would be fine for keeping engaged and visible IF I wasn’t reliant on work financially.

sadly, I am. I do not have a soft life.

mindutopia · 29/07/2026 19:44

I am always very cautious about using this term, because what it looks like on instagram when it’s all nice and curated is very different from real life.

I’d say what you describe, apart from the living abroad and by the beach, sounds a lot like my life. Except at the moment I don’t even work 6 hours a week. Not because I’m too busy with yoga, because I have incurable cancer. I do go for coffees and I do yoga and go for runs and ride my horse. I have quality time with my children and can run them anywhere. I don’t have a cleaner, but Dh is mostly done work by 3-4pm most days. We have a big house, nice lifestyle. Apart from the cancer though, I’ve gone through a hell of a lot, abuse, lost a parent as a child, am no contact with my whole family.

It’s not been a soft life. I live how I live because it’s all I can do right now. Most people know I’m not well, but I don’t look poorly and probably there are a lot of outsiders raising some eyebrows about my big house and my yoga and my ability to always cook meals from scratch. I do this because it means I can maximise how present I can be in my life. My kids may not have me forever, so now they get the best of me while I’m here.

DarkForces · 29/07/2026 19:44

It's certainly not a hard life but it's not one I'd be suited to

Original poster
Wellthatwasabrupt · 29/07/2026 19:43

dontmalbeconme · 29/07/2026 19:42

Sounds easy, but boring. Add in learning a new language or two, playing a couple of musical instruments (and improving), competing in a few sports (at whatever level works for you), writing a novel/memoir, having a happy, active social life and you might have me hooked.

Language learning too, pilates, yoga & padel, meet up with friends

OP posts:
dontmalbeconme · 29/07/2026 19:42

Sounds easy, but boring. Add in learning a new language or two, playing a couple of musical instruments (and improving), competing in a few sports (at whatever level works for you), writing a novel/memoir, having a happy, active social life and you might have me hooked.

Nousernameideaaga · 29/07/2026 19:41

I would love this . But in the UK

Flamingojune · 29/07/2026 19:41

Who said it was soft

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 29/07/2026 19:41

Omg so soft...
I bet her marriage is in great shape....no daily grind pressures to force her to confront the grim reality of how utterly mediocre even the most compentent husband is

I would love this

FredBares · 29/07/2026 19:40

Sounds absolutely lovely. Idyllic.

Original poster
Wellthatwasabrupt · 29/07/2026 19:39

JugBouquet · 29/07/2026 19:37

And no, I wouldn’t. It sounds purposeless and as if the person is killing time.

The job has purpose, the studying does and the raising of a child

OP posts:
friedaklein · 29/07/2026 19:38

I have had that life and I didn't like it. I like working out of the house and more equal parenting.

JMSA · 29/07/2026 19:38

It’s a very easy, blessed and privileged life. At least on the surface, going by what you’ve told us!

Smudgist · 29/07/2026 19:38

Sounds like a lovely life.

Never understand people who think you have nothing to talk about unless you work FT. Why on earth does it make a difference? Unless your conversation is all about work, it makes no sense.

Original poster
Wellthatwasabrupt · 29/07/2026 19:38

JugBouquet · 29/07/2026 19:36

Who’s funding it?

Herself & Dh are funding their lives-they are not wealthy, but get by ok

OP posts:
BennyHenny · 29/07/2026 19:37

I’d be bored witless but I thrive on being busy and love working and having a seperate life outside of the home. Am sure plenty of people would love it though.

WyrdHag · 29/07/2026 19:37

I'd like it without the husband or child but I'm 50 so...🤷🏼‍♀️

EverMissWicklowSometimes · 29/07/2026 19:37

Sounds great apart from the dogs!

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