Ursula the work sea witch does not win again!

 I was almost ready to throw in the towel, but I found a new way to look at it. And it has made all the difference.

So just when I thought I had dodged one boppit at work, another one popped up. Causing me more work angst. Like I needed that.

Mostly what's at stake here other than emotional anguish is my retirement date. It's gone through many iterations the last 4-6 weeks.

But now with New Job (hooray!), I have yet a new plan.

I think the best path moving forward is to consider New Job my Primary Job and Widget job my secondary job. This is transformational because Widget job is the job I've held longer and makes 2x as much as New job. Butttt, Widget job is currently unstable. And that instability is the reason I went looking for New Job as of late.

So remembering that it was easier to make this mental shift. And it has made all the difference. Although I haven't started, from past experience, I am more in control of the outcomes of New Job. It's call center. I can control my metrics more so there. I do have a minor concern that there is some writing involved and I know now that writing for a job is not my calling. 

For now, I'm done dancing with Widget Job to try to think of optimal outcomes.

So for now, I'm moving forward with New Job as primary job and putting my priority and focus with doing that job well. Aaaand the other thing is, I decided to let go of specific financial objectives...errr specific savings objectives because with New Job I think I can hack out 2 more years to my original (recent) retirement goal of Jun 2026. So that means if I'm willing to work for 2 more years than I can let the market take control.

So with minimal savings goals, New Job's salary will be just fine. 

I remembered too that I wanted to move away from aggressive savings goal and just enjoy the remaining half of my life. Because of job instability, I had packed in some big savings goal for the next 2 to 9 months, so I can relax on some of those.

I have a job! 

So yeah, maxing out 401k will not be a priority with New Job in 2025. It just won't. I'll still do the minimum to get the match (which doesn't seem all that worthwhile cuz it takes 5 years to vest, but I'll take the tax benefit). But yeah without thinking much about it yet, I see myself looking at what my expenses are for this year 2024 and using that to make savings goal, if any, beyond 3%

I have to remind myself it seems, I'm on the soft life path.

No more over-achieving. No more unnecessary stress.

Cuz I've already FIed twice now. I have enough to more than meet my basic needs and expenses and enough to pursue my interests.

And this makes me happy and calms me down. Yay!

Winning for all! 

100k is a great salary; the fact that I bemoaned it is a little outrageous! So yeah, good time to level set as I reach a new freedom point - July 4. Just declaring my financial independence and freedom from worry and unnecessary aggressive savings goal and outcomes.

1 million is just a fun number at this point. I'm FI, folks! I did it. And I'll do it and can celebrate if/when I reach 1 million.

But until then..hello! enjoy the ride!!! This is your life.