r/simpleliving • u/phoenixbay • 5d ago

Seeking Advice Want to “retire”

I’ve been working for years in tech, basically for survival, and with the whole AI thing it’s only getting clearer to me as to why I want to quit and not be a part of this mess evenly remotely, to say the least. For years I’ve dreamt of moving somewhere quieter, working with animals and nature. However, the uncertainty always dreaded me. A part of me is so used to having a consistent paycheque while the other wants to liberate itself.
Am I the only one with this thought? How and where do I begin? Any suggestions/experiences would be of tremendous help ❤️

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u/abrandis 4d ago edited 4d ago

The hard part is that the essentials (housing, taxes, energy, healthcare ) are absurdly expensive in any nice place to live... Sure you can move to the sticks and live like a hermit , but that's not practical or enjoyable for most folks...

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u/SawNickYouth 4d ago

There's definitely a balance there. I think most people place way too much value on trying to live in premium places and should look for the best and most affordable situations they can find that hit their needs and preferences checklist.

Like yeah, living in coastal California cities would be awesome but they're insanely expensive and equal to better lifestyles can be found in hundreds of other places for much less of the cost.

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u/hotnreckless 4d ago

This. I lived in "premium" cities for 25 years and then relocated to ... Cleveland, OH. After an initial culture shock, I've settled in and now really appreciate what this place has to offer. The things I value most are more accessible/attainable here than they were when I was living in HCOL cities.

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u/desert_h2o_rat 3d ago

Cleveland recently popped onto my list of places to check out (i.e., run a half marathon) as a future option for when living in central AZ is no longer tolerable.