The Seeds of a Lifestyle Strategy
After reaching FIRE—especially during the 2020 pandemic—I finally had the time and space to think more deeply about what an ideal lifestyle might look like.
Surprisingly, the first clues came from something much earlier: decluttering.
Back around 2012, I read a blog post by Mr. Money Mustache about the simplicity of dorm living. It resonated. As I pared down my possessions, I started remembering how light and carefree I had felt back then—able to leave for months with just a suitcase and a carry-on. Furnished spaces. Minimal stuff. Fewer obligations.
It was simple. And it worked.
That idea—a kind of “dorm simple” life—became the seed of something bigger.
In 2020, I defined my top 10 values. Simplicity, learning, fun in the sun, and authentic creative expression were core. One value I initially labeled “back on campus” turned out to be something else entirely.
It wasn’t just a value. It was a lifestyle vision.
And when I looked closer, I realized something:
I had already lived it.
One year in college contained many of the exact elements I’m now intentionally working to recreate.
Here’s what that life included:
Time Freedom
For one semester, I didn’t work. A short-lived dining hall job ended the moment I realized I didn’t want someone policing a one-minute conversation. So I chose freedom over a paycheck.
It came at a cost—student loans and a maxed-out credit card—but it also gave me something rare: total control over my time. Aside from that year, I had worked consistently since age 12 until reaching FIRE.
Dorm Simple Living
I lived alone in a dorm room with a meal plan and very few possessions. Life felt easy. Even better, connection felt easy. Community was built in.
Learning and Growing
I wasn’t the most focused student overall—but one class changed my trajectory. “Dr. Bob,” a legendary professor, taught a course on living the good life. His thinking stuck with me and ultimately led me toward a career in HR—and later, a PhD in Psychology.
On Stage, In the Spotlight
That same semester, I landed a lead role in the school musical. It was great fun—creative, expressive, and alive.
Fitness As Fun
I took a cycling class that met three times a week, riding through town. It reframed fitness—not as only discipline, but as enjoyment. Our final was a 30-mile ride to a neighboring state, which sparked my interest in fitness as a part of travel and exploration.
Scratching the Wanderlust Itch
Through a student exchange program, I found a tight-knit group of friends from across the country. Almost every weekend, we went somewhere new—short trips, shared experiences, constant discovery.
It was adventure. It was connection. It was alive.
Only recently did I realize: that year wasn’t just a great memory.
It was a blueprint.
A good part of what I’ll be exploring in future posts is how to intentionally design a life that brings these and other elements to life. I’m doing that now—as a singer-songwriter with the freedom and resources to make the “good life” real.
For now, I’ll leave you with two questions:
What 5–10 elements would your ideal lifestyle include?
When have you felt most alive—and what does that reveal about how you actually want to live?