To be viewed as low achiever

[Imadogpersonreally]

Am I being right in thinking that my family and friends are being snotty and annoying?!
DH and I met in London in our early 20s and lived, worked, bought a property and had two DC there. The plan was to work really hard whilst there and when time was right, move to a village up north to raise our kids.
We never received any financial or physical help from our families for deposits, childcare, renovations etc.. Did it all by ourselves. It wasn't easy.

We both had careers, invested all our money into fixing up our London property and never really had holidays, expensive clothes, latest tech etc.. Recently we bought a property up north.. Outright without a mortgage. A modest but nice 3 bed place. Our place in London is being rented out. We have both given up on our careers and plan to look for simple day jobs that pay the bills whilst we plan to pursue our passions in art and nature. Our costs are small, the DC will go to a lovely school and there's family close by.

But some of our siblings and friends are looking down on us now that we don't have careers anymore! They've all done OK for themselves academically or financially and can't seem to understand our decision to have a simpler life! I think we've done OK having two properties, small outgoings and all before turning 40. Am I missing something here?

@AlwaysCheddar nope.. a useless pension from my old company. We rely on having 2x3 bed properties that can be rented out or sold and a share in a business. And we're not retiring yet..just planning to do simpler jobs other than a busy career.. Maybe we are insane and stupid but I'd like to think that's fine..

I can’t wait to be that comfortable. DH and I are in our late 20s and can’t wait to give up work! We’ve been saving at least 40-50% of our income for a few years now in the hope of retiring early.

Can’t think of anything better than freedom and choice to work when and how I want.

I did the same. YANBU OP.

One lot of rental is not going to provide much in the way of a pension though. Remember a future government might tax income from second homes very heavily, or state pension might disappear.

I think you are being a tad naive OP, but I wish you well.

All sounds good except no holidays.

We sold our London house and are now mortgage free in Aus. Everyone thinks I should stop working but I don't want to. I'm early 40s and have a lot more living I will need to fund!

But I have taken, what I consider, a lower role that's close to home, some might see me now as a low achiever 🤷

It’s all about being able to achieve a quality of life which you have managed

@BrokenLogs sounds lovely! I don't want to stop working either. I'm too sociable for that I just want a job that I can leave at work at the end of the day and focus on my own things at home like sewing and drawing..
And what comes to being naive.. I might be, but what about all those other people in this country that have 'just' a job and not a career? I'm sure we'll all manage. After all, we've never really splashed out moneywise anyways..

The problem is with a job that’s ‘just a job’ is that it’s often unfulfilling and also less flexible that a career led job. You’re more likely to be paid primarily for your time rather than your skills.

@Basilicaofthemind sounds good to me 😜 In my career the only one flexible was me with crazy deadlines and unpaid overtime.