Is this a ‘Soft life’

[Wellthatwasabrupt]

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?

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

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.

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

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

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

Sounds absolutely lovely. Idyllic.

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

Who said it was soft

I would love this . But in the UK

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

hehh that made me laugh

I think it sounds delightful

I think it sounds great!

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.

What is the point of this thread?

Of what?

What does six hours a week fund unless it's six hours of something very unusual?

I don't think it matters whether it's "a soft life" - whatever that's supposed to mean.

I suppose it depends what studying the person is doing (maybe it will lead to a career or a source of income for future individual security?) whether they feel fulfilled, and whether they would be able to support themselves and their child if circumstances changed (assuming it's not the six hours of work paying for the lifestyle) how financially secure the woman is long term - on the deeds? Pension?

Or us it all precarious with a prenup which will be valid where they live meaning she's utterly reliant on keeping her husband sweet? That would be the opposite of a soft life, but would be foolish...

My ideal working is 3 days a week - for me that’s a good balance.

Sounds lovely, but I hope woman in question has qualifications, some work experience and some money of her own just in case things don't remain idyllic.