If you don't live in a standard "normal" way, how do you live?

[curiositykilledthecatsplat]

Curious to know how people live if you don't live in "standard" way, how do you live? ie you live in a commune, you travel the world with your family etc etc

@IJustLikeBiscuitsOK

Not sure how "differently" I live, but I visit North Korea once or twice a year, and have done for many years. I've never felt scared there at all, very welcoming people

After watching Crash Landing on You I would love to go to North Korea. Have you seen the series, IJustLike?

My life story has been far from standard. Hollywood could get a few sequals out of the story. Hollywood ain't getting it though

My story is truly like out of a historical novel spanning 6 generations which includes my adult youngsters and grandchildren.

It's spans over 9 countries. Its a story you couldn't make up. It includes middle/high class my mom side and fathers side Poverty. All that glittered wasn't gold.

You couldn't make it up. We may look like a normal family on the surface ....

No we aren't related to anyone famous or the RF either 😏

@shewalkslikerihanna

Live between two homes March to end of November Not just talking weekends Spend more time at our holiday home then our normal home It’s about 5/2 or 4/3 Bloody love it Had a cracking 5 days this week Then in the winter spend about 8 weeks abroad

Probably nothing very unusual in that though to be fair

You're either kidding or extremely sheltered. Only on MN would this be "nothing very unusual". How the 1% lives, eh...

@MareofBeasttown

I have been an expat all my life from the age of 4 and have lived in about 8 countries and 12 cities.

Wow, that's a lifestyle which always appealed to me, but I could never see how to achieve it. I lived in Greece when I was younger, but then got stuck in the UK...

@Logmein

I don't know if this is classed as different but my DH lives in another country for 6 months of the year and has for most of our marriage. I visit once of twice in that time for a long weekend, he doesn't come back in that time, not armed forces and he's British so he's not going back home, he has a unique job that I won't say as there are only a handful of people in the world that do it if that. We don't see each other often. I love it 😀

That’s so interesting! Arctic? I am sitting here playing guessing games with myself!

NC for this but I gave up my corporate job, sold my home and left my whole life behind in my early 30s to move to Japan to be with my husband. So happy I made this choice as I wanted to get away from my previous life so it feels like I ran away to the other side of the world 😂

I’m 41 and retired. I’m the only retired person with a two year old that I know. I do a lot of activities with people approx 30 years older than me during the week.

@SquarePeggyLeggy

I’m 41 and retired. I’m the only retired person with a two year old that I know. I do a lot of activities with people approx 30 years older than me during the week.

Isn’t that a sahm?

@SquarePeggyLeggy

I’m 41 and retired. I’m the only retired person with a two year old that I know. I do a lot of activities with people approx 30 years older than me during the week.

I recall you from another thread You have three kids A two year old and school aged Your husband works You’re definitely not retired!

I don’t know! I have no intention of returning to work, and have childcare 3 days a week, during which I pursue my interests and hobbies. So I guess you could say I’m a part time SAHM?

@SquarePeggyLeggy

I don’t know! I have no intention of returning to work, and have childcare 3 days a week, during which I pursue my interests and hobbies. So I guess you could say I’m a part time SAHM?

A sahm with childcare and no intention to return to work Very common in my affluent Uk south east town I was the same for 10 years Only returned to work part time because divorced

My mother gave up work at 30 and was full time sahm
We went to childcare from your granny age and then long hours at private school

Retired? No a sahm!

Young age

15 hours free childcare once over 3
Irrespective of income!
So loads out in childcare but a sahm

I topped up the 15 to 20 a week!

How do you define early retirement versus SAHM? Genuinely curious as I have wondered how to define this stage.
"Retirement" is self funded through investments generating income.

But I guess not unconventional.

When you don’t have any child dependents
But still not working
Simple as that

Not working out of choice that is

You have child dependents (very young ones at that!), so sahm

Do you not have friends in similar positions? Do you all call yourself retired? When you at the park pushing a toddler, then doing the school run, preparing dinner, toddler bath etc etc?

I have 3 female friends who separated from their husbands when their children were at nursery. They all lived together with the kids to save on rent and have support. Worked a treat with everyone doing their share. No mess, no rows, childcare round the clock

Personally I consider ‘retired’ to be the term to describe a set of financial circumstances meaning you no longer have to work (in the traditional sense of the word - (not ‘work’ within your family unit/raising a child etc) AND you (personally) receive an income, eg a private pension, or regular and significant return on investments.

You can be retired from one job, as I am (get NHS pension) but still doing another one (as I am too). But I wouldn't call myself "retired" overall as I still work full time.

@Mdghteryhddhh

I went around the world alone carrying only one tiny backpack (planned to take a massive backpack but ditched it last second). For part of it I flew around Southern Africa in light aircraft deciding each morning where I would go - jumped into a plane with only my tiny bag, chucked in the back and the pilot asked if that was it. We then took off straight away on a short runway. Never felt so free.

What was in your bag?

@HollowTalk I also want to know what was in the tiny bag!

@thedancingbear

I'm a gelatinous cube from the planet zarg. I own and run a moisture farm together with my three mothers, and sell my livers on the side.

Sounds pretty standard to me.

We have ended up living differently from the norm because our children are neurodiverse and neither could cope with mainstream school. We spent years struggling to fit square pegs into round holes, but these days we home educate them and life is much calmer. Also, my DH and I swapped roles a few years back so he became their full-time carer and I became the breadwinner. Our lifestyle is unconventional, but these days I'm quite blasé about it when anyone questions us. I've come to terms with our differences and am certain that we are doing the best we can for our children and prioritising their mental health over everything else. Anyone who judges us should try walking in our shoes.