https://img.inleo.io/DQmPWQ6sPBidaQGHA8QwxTezm63ufBZxNrwJK5Zcg93dCWh/image.png 


In 2023 the wife and I made the decision to leave Honolulu and return to my family homestead in North Carolina.  Prior to that I had worked as project manager and superintendent in a demolition and construction company. My wife had a career as a director and producer for television news, banking, then helping form a non-profit. My wife's job as marketing director - was portable. Mine was not - but I welcomed the change. 

With no children, and only minor expenses we have been able to live quite comfortably on the work we choose to do. Location is critical for this, the cost of living in rural north North Carolina is less than half of the cost of Honolulu.  Rather than waking up to 4:00 AM to head to a morning meeting, I wake up and consider what I want to accomplish that day.  I am able to pitch and help my wife with some of her nonprofit activities, and we made an enjoyable trip up to Washington DC to represent her organization. Working from home has given us a chance to deepening our friendship.

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits is regaining any of the time we spent in traffic or commuting. We aren't buying lunch or coffee outside of the home. We aren't putting miles on our car.  The amount of money that people spend to go to a job is perhaps underappreciated. Our days feel like they have more enjoyable and productive hours.   

Over the course of the past year I've had the time to keep a large garden, volunteer for a Congressional Campaign, and help organize a bipartisan group of citizens to help win some key local elections. In the process of performing some amateur local journalism, I rediscovered how much I enjoy writing.  I've been able to take the time to deep dive into the the topics I find interesting. I have recently started a series here on InLeo titled "Culture War Chronicles" Where I explore some of the group dynamics and narrative transmission and formation on social media networks. - https://inleo.io/@alohaed/culture-war-chronicles-no-1-ethan-van-scivers-comicsgate-vs-chuck-dixons-horseman-a-graphic-novel-from-the-rippaverse-ftb?referral=alohaed

Our circumstances are somewhat unique and the choices my wife and I have made, certainly might not work for everyone, but we are glad we did. We are both in our early 50s and the idea of an urban hustle, or suburban commuter life was completely unappealing. Our day to day lives are quiet punctuated by novel experiences that we choose. Part of this process is sitting down and examining what is genuinely important to you, and determining your own priorities. We valued quiet and a more reflective life and we chose it.




Posted Using [InLeo Alpha](https://inleo.io/@alohaed/working-from-home-declining-a-scurrisome-life-fj8)