[brabel]

I've been living a comfortable life, but well below my means. I could have a bigger house, a bigger car, travel more. The reasons I don't do that are exactly that I do not want to be "forced" to continue working (even if I currently enjoy working, I know I won't forever) well into old age, and I have realistic hope that I will be able to retire within a few more years (I am in my early 40's now). I may continue "working" on something, as I do think I will continue to enjoy building things, but I want to do that on my own terms, from wherever I feel like.

With a motivation like that, I found it very easy to "jump off the hedonistic treadmill". But I was never one to give high importance to showing off wealth or status. Those things have very little importance to me as in my view, all they can give me are superficial "highs" of feeling superior, but then I immediately remember that the desire to feel superior itself needs to be suppressed as it is not just evil when taken to the extreme, but also is a never ending race where there's no winner and no real satisfaction.