Looking at everyone's bored expressions whilst getting off another packed train at Cannon Street this morning, I wondered what motivates people to do their ridiculous commute each day. Have most of us set ourselves lofty targets or have financial circumstances dictated that we have to do it because we're hanging on by our fingertips?
Personally, I have a mortgage which is larger than I'm comfortable with but is still very manageable between me and my part-time working wife. We drip feed occasional lump sums as and when we're able. I have a war chest to see us through the next 18 months if out of contract and she could go back full time if we needed.
If I stay in contract for another 5 years at the most I reckon I would be able to bail out of IT, buy some woodland and spend the rest of my days coppicing it and selling the produce locally. I have little interest in pursuing the latest gadgets, cars, motorbikes, etc. anymore, and an old Defender or Discovery would do me fine for working the woods. I know our son would grow up having a riot making camps in the wood with his friends and I'd be working locally so could spend more time with my family. A less complicated life. That's my motivation.
Kevin McCloud's favourite Grand Design was on More4 last night. The one with woodsman Ben Law who built a house in his woods because he had a genuine need to be there for his work. He could never sell it but that wasn't really the point. You'd be hard pushed to find a more contented man in his work. It turns out that the episode was the most popular Grand Design ever in a vote by viewers too, so I guess it appealed to an awful lot of other people too.
Personally, I have a mortgage which is larger than I'm comfortable with but is still very manageable between me and my part-time working wife. We drip feed occasional lump sums as and when we're able. I have a war chest to see us through the next 18 months if out of contract and she could go back full time if we needed.
If I stay in contract for another 5 years at the most I reckon I would be able to bail out of IT, buy some woodland and spend the rest of my days coppicing it and selling the produce locally. I have little interest in pursuing the latest gadgets, cars, motorbikes, etc. anymore, and an old Defender or Discovery would do me fine for working the woods. I know our son would grow up having a riot making camps in the wood with his friends and I'd be working locally so could spend more time with my family. A less complicated life. That's my motivation.
Kevin McCloud's favourite Grand Design was on More4 last night. The one with woodsman Ben Law who built a house in his woods because he had a genuine need to be there for his work. He could never sell it but that wasn't really the point. You'd be hard pushed to find a more contented man in his work. It turns out that the episode was the most popular Grand Design ever in a vote by viewers too, so I guess it appealed to an awful lot of other people too.
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