So I wound up with very little $, but I'm far happier than in my working days for some of the same reasons as yourself. My time is my own. No one tells me what to do when (except for abiding by the law, of course) and so long as I can avoid jail, I don't have to put up with anyone I don't want to see. Blessed, blessed relief. Never been bored in my life and never will be. There's too much work. But I set my own schedule, and if I want to read at 2 A.M., that's exactly what I do.
I view it as just reward for sparing all those people in years past (and a few now) that I really would've loved to go after with an iron skillet.
Which reminds me of another blessing - I also cook and eat what I want and when I want. It's very hard to keep a straight face when people offer me sympathy for living alone. I also suspect part of the unspeakable ire a few others direct toward me has partly to do with jealousy, even though they might have a lot more in worldly goods. Which brings up another oddity; nobody else in town wanted this ancient house, at least not enough to buy it at the bargain basement price I paid. In another short while it would've been impossible to rehab at all.
But now that I have the entire outside looking halfway decent and the yard heavily landscaped, some people make it clear they don't think it's fair for me to have a big beautiful place to live in just for myself. Even though it's going to Catholic Workers for a rest home when I'm gone. They're also puzzled by how I live so well on so little, but I know they'd never for one second dream of sacrificing like I have to bring new life to the place, w/o incurring debt.
Hahahahaha - can you imagine how it galls the RW to see a damned (allegedly) godless Democrat outdo them? I always had blue striped shade cloth around the porch but had to replace it twice, so finally I gave it up. The 1" square white lattice I just had put up around the porch is there for a lot more than shade. I like to sit outside and listen to the world go by while keeping my own silence. And I can see everyone even though they can't see me.
Aha! That proves I'm up to no good!
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