When are we allowed to retire? What it the meaning of retirement in exponentially changing labor markets? Is it unemployment or just a different lifestyle, one which allows dignity and detachment from the daily craziness our capitalist economies require from us?
This BBC video about millenials retiring at age 30 is inspiring, but it also reveals a pretty negative trend: the decline of social capital or what French sociologist called anomie, i.e. a lack of alignment within society. In the end, we can only change ourselves and need to start where impact can be created. Waiting for others to transform does not pay off.
F.I.R.E. is short for Financial Independence and Retire Early. Its a self-reliant exit strategy from the rat race our economic systems put us into. It is a method to accelerate the transformation towards an universal basic income. Only knowledge workers can take that path and it is way easier without dependents.
It surely is yet another indicator of a society that needs healing.