If I did not have to work what would I spend my time doing?

This is a question I ponder often. Because my husband is 15 years my senior and at retirement age I often battle with this question. I run a very successful service-based business (real estate), and my retirement age, if typical, is still 15 years away. However, we have built enough in savings that I could feasibly retire, although I would have to simplify and downsize/downshift.

I often feel that my current situation is not my true calling. But then I struggle with that because I have always been an entrepreneur and intrigued by building a successful, scalable business. I wonder how I would spend my time if I did not need to spend 40 to 80 hours per week on my business and all that comes along with it.. If I did not need to earn so much money, what would I do with my time?

Right now I am responsible for making enough money to pay for all of our expenses and our current lifestyle including travel. I also am responsible for providing support and leads for my team of agents which cost me approximately $80,000 a year. I also intern have to pay the salaries of my staff which currently cost me an additional $90,000 a year. All of these responsibilities and others relying on me cause me stress and a lot of time and energy is put into running this business.. The thought often crosses my mind about simplifying.

So I contemplate what it would be like if I did not run this business and I could do whatever I wanted all day. What would I spend my time doing? Would I be satisfied? Would I write more? Would I paint? Would I garden? Would I become a yoga fanatic? Would I become a health and lifestyle counselor? What would I do if given the opportunity to do anything in the world that I would like to do and am passionate about?

For many years I have craved simplicity. A simple life where my expenses are low and I live a life full of my passions, more like my grandparents did, just simpler. Is this even possible anymore?

I just have this annoying little feeling that something I am supposed to be doing is being shut down or held back. How do I get to the point where I can test this? If I wait until I’m too old the window will be gone! So my burning question is constantly if I should simplify now or when should I simplify to begin this exploration of the next phase in my life? I also still have two sons and they both are still in school and one has two years left and the other one has five years left before they graduate high school so this also comes into play when thinking about how to progress with this goal.

I know I am probably not alone in feeling this but I don’t know if this is a common feeling or if it’s an unusual feeling. I would love to hear from anyone else who is struggling with the same question. Please comment below and share your thoughts!

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