Would you work if you didn't have to?

[EshSchools]

Sitting here with a virtual pile of very uninspiring admin to do and daydreaming...

Would you work if you didn't have to? For instance if you and the family had a paid off mortgage, good pensions and a windfall. (I'm imagining 1-2 million in the bank). I think I'd give up work and study for a postgrad degree just for fun, but I wonder if I'd feel differently if I like my (quite well paid but dull) office job.

No and I don't since I resigned in July. I have one secondary school age DS and DH currently working from home.
Loving it so far!
I feel very lucky to be able to do this though.

Yes, I do. For life security.

Nope! I'd maybe volunteer if I felt "bored" but I'd make sure I was at every one of my children's sports days and parents evenings and waiting at the school gates for them 😍 they are little for so little.

No way would I work if I didn't have to ... I'd do all the things I have no time for .. cooking from scratch .. long walks .. volunteer ... get another cat !!! Read ... I'd absolutely love it 😊

No, I'd do a PhD. And I'd travel a lot!

Not in my current job I wouldn't. But I would like to do something I enjoy. I don't think I could just faff about.

I am one of those sad people for whom work adds meaning to their lives ( I don't think we are that rare?). I enjoy my work and the fact I don't 'have' to do it means I can practise my profession ( which I love) flexibly, doing the interesting stuff I enjoy. I also enjoy earning money which we can invest for our future plans. What I don't have to partake in any more is fixed hours, working in a big organisation and having people tell me what to do. Those bits, I don't miss one jot and I love my job again.

Yes but part time. I love my job.

Love my job. But would leave it in a heartbeat for that op

No way, I'ld get a dog, go on bike rides, bake, catch a matinee, be right on top of housework.

I'ld not get bored & would embrace the lifestyle to its fullest.

For many years I'd havevsaid yes. But I just feel it's making me ill now, so absolutely no!

@LongPauseNoAnswer

I’m in the exact position in the OP and I still work because I love my business. I work max 15 hours a week and I couldn’t really call it work because it’s so enjoyable. So yes, I will continue to work despite not needing to.

Sounds like me.

I even look forward to Mondays

I wonder if we love our jobs because our work/life balance is better?

No way would I work if I didn't have to ... I'd do all the things I have no time for .. cooking from scratch .. long walks .. volunteer ... get another cat !!! Read ... I'd absolutely love it

I have time to do all of those because I work part time. Is that an option for you @Alicatz66?

I have a very introverted husband who doesn't like going out and doesn't like many people. If I didn't work there is only so much housework/decorating/gardening that I can do, so I would volunteer because I would just get so bored being at home with DH all day, except for going for lots of walks (which is the only thing he really likes doing)

Absolutely! I don't need to but have just gone back part time after my baby was born. I find being at home is pretty dull

Yes, I would give up work in a heartbeat, although I do only work part time now, to go back to uni and a fine art degree. I was always told I had talent as an artist, I would love to be formally trained and be able to spend the time and money doing so, without worrying if it would be a good investment in terms of getting paid for my art (which I probably wouldn't be).

Yes.

if 5 months of furlough have taught me anything its that i do not respond well to a lack of structure.

Not a chance. If I didn’t have to work to earn money to live, the chances of me dragging my sorry arse out of bed on cold, dark winter mornings would be zero. It just wouldn’t happen.

Wage slavery is, has always been, and always will be a necessary evil for me.

I would always feel the need to contribute somehow.
Voluntary work, Guerrilla gardening, litter picking, fundraising.
Total self indulgence would be unfulfillig.

I love my work though.

I have no boss, work from home, can pick my hours to suit me.
Time to exercise, walk in the forest, I can jack in the day if I am not feeling it, and earn twice what my OH earns.

No. I would volunteer, learn, exercise , look after the DC and garden, it would be fab.

But, we sold our business last year - DH is coming up for retirement age - and we had a total of three weeks off together before I started job hunting.

We need to work either one FT or both PT, but we could have had a good three - six months break before getting employed.
DH drove me up the wall! And we'd been working and living together 24/7 for years .

I already do. I retrained and went back to work even though I didn't have to.

I love the job (software development), I love the projects, the results, I love the coding community, I love the networking and the conferences. I love the team environment. I love building things.

I earn an above-average salary, but DP still earns, I dunno, 7x, 8x more. Same industry, he's just more senior.

I don't have to be there, I just want to be there. I was a SAHM while the kids were in nursery but once they were in school, I could pursue a real career.

@Ginfordinner ... I'm definitely considering part time once DS has finished uni !!

The worst thing about working FT, especially in a school like I do, is the fact it's so TYING. If I want to go away for a short break I can't very easily, not during term time anyway. No holidays during term time so all holidays are fecking expensive and full of other people!

I can't get tradesmen in as there's never anyone at home. Home delivery stuff is a right ballache, especially foodstuffs. Appointments (mine and the kids) during the working day is another cause of stress, I don't have a leave allowance so it all just has to be approved by the head, and you know your absence causes hassle for colleagues.

I hate coming home at the end of the day and rushing straight into thinking about evening meal or food shopping, or laundry. Would be nice to be able to do all that crap during the day. And make nice healthy lunches with a proper lunch break rather than trying to shove a sandwich down my neck before being interrupted by a kid going "miss, can I come in yet?"

The garden is a mess, never any time to properly get on top of it. Various decorating jobs need doing in the house. Can't get up the motivation to do it at weekends, and school holidays often just disappear with other crap that you can't do during term time!!

I hate having to go to the city centre at the weekend when it's at its busiest, and tourists everywhere.

I hate that I'm stuck in work while we have some of the nicest weather, must be nice to just go off for a walk or to the beach during the only 2 nice days of the week.

We can't get a dog.

No time to exercise except at 6am when I'm like the sleepiest sloth ever, or 5.30 when I'm knackered from the day and need to start thinking about cooking the evening meal.

So there is too much restrictive about FT work, that gets in the way of proper enjoyment of life. If I had a million in savings and no mortgage then damn right I would stop work and take full advantage of all the above at my leisure. I would do voluntary work on set days and help out elderly relatives and neighbours more than I can do now with their errands.

And go on lots of short breaks (COVID permitting!) whenever I want!

No. I’d study a lot though.

I love my job, it’s incredibly difficult atm because of Covid, but I don’t think even now I could give it up.
I am absolutely exhausted, overworked and underpaid but as much as I wax lyrical about living the good life at home, and beyond - I don’t think I would actually do it.