ZanderEarth32

And why even stop with only visual mediums, why is listening to music any more fulfilling or beneficial than watching a 30 minute sitcom?

This might really come down to passive viewing versus active viewing,where in the passive case you're just sitting there flipping channels to pass the time, consuming whatever is presented to you. This isn't inherently a bad thing though. If it is relaxing or enjoyable to you, then there is no reason to stop. Not everything you do in life needs to improve you as a person on some deep level.

Sometimes, sitting there twiddling your thumbs to relax or recharge is just as beneficial as reading, learning, growing, coding, building, shipping, etc.

Good list, but what's with the "What 90% Less TV" quip? I get it, TV is an idiot box, there's nothing good on, blah blah. But not all TV is equal. Does this include content you actively seek out on Netflix or some other on-demand service that you happen to view on your TV?

This appears as another, "I don't even own a tv" kind of elitism advice. Without a reason as to why I should stop watching so much tv, or even a basis for the seemingly arbitrary 90% number I can't take this advice with any kind of seriousness.

I went through the LPTHW program a few months back and it was definitely the best system or book I found on the subject. To be honest, I need to go back through now and do it again, using your advice to do each lesson twice.

My first go through, I kind of rushed through parts because I had an idea I wanted to try out and just wanted to learn enough to get it done (which I did :D)but I think I cheated myself out on some essential Python knowledge.

Just started using Trello at work and home and it's been great.

I think the easy sign up process and inviting users to a specific board was what allowed for easy adaptation with the small team I am working with. The lack of 'enterprise features' or complicated options or modes is also very refreshing. It's simple, free and that is why we use it.

Stay off HN. Stay off Twitter. Stay off RSS feeds.

Gotcha, that makes sense and is legitimate. Sometimes I get so jaded about people collecting my name and email for no reason that I forget that there are perfectly okay reasons to request it.

Very nice. I love the rain and use the White Noise app set on Rain on my phone every night to help me sleep.

Just one thing, I am not sure how dropping my name and email will contribute to more features? I know you say you're not going to spam me, but it seems like you're just collecting emails to selective email me other things I might not be interested in.

I am astounded at the cost of college, just some 10 years after I started school. My first semester at a decent State university cost me something like $900. I even had a scholarship for enough to cover that semester from doing well on some standardized test. By the time I finished school a few years later It was about $1700 a semester (maybe not exactly, but close to double).

I can't imagine paying $44k for a bachelors degree in any subject. If that $44k only covers tuition, not books or cost of living, it is insane.

Why is going to a community college for the first one or two years of your higher education experience never promoted? It gives you a chance to see if you'll enjoy that 'college experience', you'll get to sit in a wide range of classes or relatively little money and if you want to continue you can then transfer out. I didn't take this path, but if I had to do it again I would.

True, but I guess I didn't realize this wasn't more common knowledge.

Not sure why this is getting up voted. Hasn't Groupon taken a hit every day this week, and pretty regularly for the entire year?

I finally singed up yesterday. Couldn't be happier with it.

I really like what Stripe is doing and am trying to get my girlfriend to use it instead of PayPal on her ebook.

If the amount of money you make is a reflection of improvement in oneself then our society is flawed. It makes sense that the amount of money you earn is a reflection of your skills, even though I would argue that having the freedom to choose what you work on is more of a reflection of your skills. This type of mentality where money=self worth is a misguided mentality when looking at life as a whole.

What about activities where there is opportunity for improvement but are not rewarded financially? Like playing a sport non-professionally, improving your cooking abilities, improving your relationship with others, etc.? Can improvement not be measured since money plays no role?

I am currently fine with the amount I make, even though it's pretty low for my field. I've designed my lifestyle around what I can support financially, not the other way around.

Money rarely makes people happy. Stuff that money can buy is where they find happiness.

To me, more money equals security for the future. I often struggle to buy new things, constantly rationalizing why I should save rather than spend. These types of transactions don't make me happy.

I do find happiness spending money on trips or events though, as the article indicates.

Very nice look at making the move. I freelance on the side now, but I might look to do this in a couple of years if things go (or don't go) well with my next move.

Health insurance wise, we're you able to get coverage for yourself, or are you participating in a COBRA plan from your previous employer? To be honest, health insurance is probably the one thing that would keep me employed in regular salaried position. The fear of having a medical emergency and it wiping out my savings is a scary and totally realistic possibility.

I guess I missed out on the period when all these bloggers became celebrities or what not but it looks like at some point their personalities became bigger than the actual stories they were supposed to be covering.

> if you say 'nothing' it is met with quite a lot of negativity

Exactly. Because, in reality when you say 'nothing', you really didn't do 'nothing'. But if you didn't do anything substantial or productive then it's almost shameful to say what you really did.

Also, to your initial comment, my thinking behind the post had nothing to do with money with regard to being 'so rich' I wouldn't need to work. Enough money to maintain the small amount of responsibilities I have taken on, and to enjoy myself is all that is needed. Nothing more.

I understand that it does seem naive and misguided, especially since I often found myself bored when younger and free of responsibility. I'm realizing that I was trying to tackle too many points with this post, and none were delivered well. I wanted to emphasize the importance of reducing your responsibilities so that you still have free time. I also wanted to make note of the negative perception of having free time. Like its a symptom of failure or lack of success.

Thanks for the comment and reading.

Author here. I realize I might have appeared 'immature' in my aversion to responsibility, but my natural fear of it comes from experience. Mainly from witnessing my dad be driven into the ground by responsibility by his business, his family and obligations. The same has happened to friends who have saddled themselves with so much, and so young. Kids, cars, houses, etc. None of these people are happy, and that is where my fear stems from.

To clarify, I am mainly looking to avoid responsibilities that can be easily avoided. I do still have responsibilities though. I work, have a steady relationship, a pet, friends and family, etc. so, so far I am doing well in avoiding unneeded responsibility, but still enjoy the small amount that I do have but am not looking to add any at this time.

I didn't see an option for making a poll, but I can tabulate the responses once this has run it's course and write up a quick blog post about it with the data laid out so we can get an better idea. I'll have to use some liberty in analyzing answers that are vague though.

Having good connections and strong relationships can be much more valuable than having a great website or resume.

Are the 'bills' the only thing keeping you from dedicating all your time to your startup?

Congrats! If you don't mind me asking, how do you come about your projects? Are you doing any self-marketing, or are you getting by with word-of-mouth?

Sounds like you're in a good place. Why New Zealand or Australia? On the surface, both places seem like great places to live and work, but what is your reasoning for choosing these destinations?

This is my new favorite article, or opinion piece ever. I actually wrote something similar recently and submitted discussing my goal of having nothing but free time which falls inline with this very much http://tortillasinbed.com/post/26229642463/free-time-is-my-g....

This obsessiveness with appearing as you are always busy is kind of sad. I think it's largely an age related thing. People in their 20's and 30's equate their worth, or value with how much stuff they are doing or making. I'd love to talk to an old friend and ask them what they're and have them say, 'nothing much, just hanging out'. Thats usually my response.

I think people put too much emphasis on Facebook and what perceived problems it is 'suppose to solve' in their lives. You get out of it what you put it into it, just like anything else (mostly). If you don't feel connected with your friends, it's not FB's fault. FB to me isn't designed to make my connections with friends stronger, it's designed to keep lingering friendships going.

On a side note, why is it so important to declare that you are no longer using or on Facebook. This isn't limited to the OP either. I've met people in real life, who take great pride in not using FB anymore. I find it in the tech & podcast world too. It's a strange type of snobbery, between 'those in the know who aren't on facebook' versus the 'sheep who are on facebook'.

Well, I am no longer using brand name nasal spray. It wasn't fulfilling my life I like I thought it was supposed to. I used it like the bottle says too and while it does what it says it's supposed to, it's not what I want.

Great, thanks. I guess looking back at my own experience with 'average users' my mom will start to yell at the computer if Facebook or some other website won't show up fairly quickly. And when it comes to AirBnB I suppose that most users of the service aren't 'average users', but more savvy crowds.

Do your guests get keys to come and go as they please?

I agree, I am not usually in my hotel room very often if I am on vacation but that raises the point of, if I am hardly in the room, who cares where I stay? I know this flies in the face of my point of being hung up on being in other peoples homes, but why not just stay in a cheaper motel (if available)?

To be honest, I'd really like to try it one day. Some of those locations look great and the prices are very reasonable.

To be honest, I never had any interest in trying AirBnB services. I never saw the allure of staying in someone else's rundown apartment or guest bedroom. I mean who wants to be that stranger in the other room? THAT SAID, this website did change my mind a little bit. I still don't think I'd like to stay in someone else's home but this website has demonstrated that there are some really amazing places you can stay in for very low costs. If I could get over my own hangups about being in other people's home, I'd definitely give AirBnB a shot after visiting this website.

It comes off as a luxury hotel website, or one of those 'ooh la la' HGTV tv shows where they show you cool, abstract homes you'll never live in. This is a good thing.

To the topic of site speed, is it really an issue to non-web-geeks? Do normal users of the web really know what a slow website is? Anyone know of studies or stats on what an average internet user considers is a slow page?

UPDATED

The website has done a good enough job of convincing me this is a legit service where it's customers are happy. I've decided to give AirBnB a shot. Going to plan a trip utilizing their services this evening. Wish me luck.