I really should stop doing this

[d000hg]

On the one hand, if you've got the money then why feel obligated to work?
On the other, if you do work the next few months how much earlier can you retire for good?

I find the work I do interesting so I think I'd still be working even if I did have a fair old warchest, but then I'm only young Who knows what I'll think in 10 years.

[Gonzo]

Agreed.

Gonzo - what area do you work in? How old are you? How long have you been in IT?

Always interesting to hear about others circumstances.

I'm a Business Analyst, 38 years old and been doing IT jobs for 12 years.

I am still confident that I will be employable when I am back on the market but I have known developers that have had to overcome the view from agents that they will have forgotten everything after taking a year off.

In some ways the current downturn has come at the right time for me because I have been promising myself some decent time off for a few years and it has coincided with me moving abroad for personal reasons.

[Clippy]

If your warchest is in good shape why not? The way I see it you are just taking time now while you are still young instead of taking it as early retirement time when you are old.

I am now having that long break I said I would. Eight months so far and I am not ready to start working just yet.
WHS

Agreed.

Gonzo - what area do you work in? How old are you? How long have you been in IT?

Always interesting to hear about others circumstances.

[Gonzo]

I turned down a new contract this afternoon, just because I want to spend next week at home and they want a Tuesday start.

That follows on from turning down the four month extension where I am.

I really should stop that, but I can't be bothered with working any more, so might just have the rest of the year off.

If your warchest is in good shape why not? The way I see it you are just taking time now while you are still young instead of taking it as early retirement time when you are old.

I am now having that long break I said I would. Eight months so far and I am not ready to start working just yet.

I've really enjoyed the last last couple of months at home, especially with the kids being off school. All outstanding DIY has been completed, new hobbies are well and truly underway (veggies garden, R/C planes) where I just never had time before.

One thing I'll say about the recession, your quality of life really improves (assumming you have a war chest). I think I'm ready to start invoicing now though....it's just that there's now work out there for me. Ho, hum, back to tending to my tomatoes and cumcumbers.

WHS

[Doggy Styles]

I live in Burnley. Chance would be a fine thing.

I know you're a Burnley man, but go and watch Accy Stanley as well. A fine football club. They play in the rain up north, so I hear.

[TheFaQQer]

When was your last holiday?

July (3 weeks break) - it's about time I had another holiday

When did you last have some Me Time?

Well, I had a pot noodle this morning, if that's what you mean.

Catch some rays in the garden

I live in Burnley. Chance would be a fine thing.

[Bright Spark]

I turned down a new contract this afternoon, just because I want to spend next week at home and they want a Tuesday start.

Why not, as long as you have a good 'war chest' and skills are in reasonable
demand not a problem, taking time off to relax and improve your skills build
up plan B and spend time with family can only make you 'better' and fresher on the next contract.

[lily234]

I really should stop that, but I can't be bothered with working any more, so might just have the rest of the year off.

You only live once! Don't beat yourself up about it - lifes too short

[Flubster]

I turned down a new contract this afternoon

Same here. Been benched since end-May. Got my first interview and offer last week, but turned it down. Ultimately, it just didn't feel right.

I've really enjoyed the last last couple of months at home, especially with the kids being off school. All outstanding DIY has been completed, new hobbies are well and truly underway (veggies garden, R/C planes) where I just never had time before.

One thing I'll say about the recession, your quality of life really improves (assumming you have a war chest). I think I'm ready to start invoicing now though....it's just that there's now work out there for me. Ho, hum, back to tending to my tomatoes and cumcumbers.

[Liability]

I turned down a new contract this afternoon, just because I want to spend next week at home and they want a Tuesday start.

That follows on from turning down the four month extension where I am.

I really should stop that, but I can't be bothered with working any more, so might just have the rest of the year off.

I can relate to you - I was going to take off till Feb next year - but after 2 weeks at home - I could not take the boredom!

[RichardCranium]

If you're not ready, you're not ready. And it'll come across in an interview anyway.

When was your last holiday?

When did you last have some Me Time?

Catch some rays in the garden while there's still some left to catch and don't worry about work until the permies have been back long enough to start looking in their Inboxen.

[pmeswani]

I turned down a new contract this afternoon, just because I want to spend next week at home and they want a Tuesday start.

That follows on from turning down the four month extension where I am.

I really should stop that, but I can't be bothered with working any more, so might just have the rest of the year off.

Take the rest of your career off. Retire rich...

[DimPrawn]

The way things are going with the new boom, you could take a year off and then pickup a contract paying twice as much at the end.

Boomed*


*but only if you keep voting Labour

[TheFaQQer]

I turned down a new contract this afternoon, just because I want to spend next week at home and they want a Tuesday start.

That follows on from turning down the four month extension where I am.

I really should stop that, but I can't be bothered with working any more, so might just have the rest of the year off.