Not needing to "request" time off two months in advance - and not be told whether or not it will be "allowed" until the last minute.

When my kid calls me for help because she has a medical problem, and two preschoolers and a household to care for - I can be on a flight within 24 hrs.

I'm on a layover in Philly now.

That's what freedom means to me. I can be there for my family.

Lots. Although it can be gone in an instant & that means for all of us. A few years ago (2020), it meant a saying YOU’RE FIRED to the public education system due to their shenanigans and homeschooling our kids. Today it meant spending the part of the day hanging some doors and molding with my oldest boy and taking him for an ice cream cone when we were done cuz he was so helpful. It’s my wife being able to work on her quilt today in the AC when it’s 95 degrees out so it’s ready to enter in the county fair this fall. Too much to list.

The right to a private, peaceful and quiet enjoyment

of my personal residence and property,

without hearing loud and obnoxious neighbors, including

and not limited to their barking dogs and immature behaviors.

There's more of this nonsense going on, than one can imagine.

Freedom is on a sliding scale. Lately Nationally freedom has been under attack by folks who believe that housing is a right and we should be obligated to allow many unrentable people a home.

For me, FREEDOM!!! is not having to the thing everyone expects, because I'd rather have the time than the money.

Tax assessor asked why I let some house sit vacant. I replied they needed a lot of ugly work, like termite damage, I just didn't want to mess with them right now.

A recent example: Denver son calls Friday night to tell us he's getting baptized on Sunday.

I think "I'm his father! I MUST be there!"

Within an hour Wifey gets me a plane ticket (full price when you're not booking weeks in advance) and I'm there Saturday morning. He said "I knew you'd come" then asks ME to baptize him. Got it on video!

Never coulda happened back when I had a job.

FREEDOM!!! is so sweet. It's worth all the late nights and stress building our business.

My life is full of things I could not do back when I was tied to a job.

BRAD

Hey, Ray !

"The Unrentables".

Now there's a book in the makings.

Brad:

Now that's the good stuff of life!

I bet you couldn't stop smiling all day : ) !

I'm rejoicing with you

Romans 5:1-2

DJ, hope that all ends well with your daughter.

I am still grasping for the freedom that I want. No W2 since '12 for me but I am still stuck with working more than I want to.

Slowly getting it under control with the help of people willing to pass their knowledge on.

Now I am headed to the rehab so I can crawl under the house and tie in the new tub drain.

Freedom to the fool is doing what you want even if it is wrong.

Freedom to the wise is doing what is right even when no one is looking.

Freedom is having the ability to do what you want, when you want. That involves:

1) Sufficient flexible schedule.

2) Sufficient funding.

3) Legal ability.

4) Personal health to partake in said activity.

5) An imagination to see beyond choices / options that other people demand of you.

I work had to keep all of those as strong as reasonably possible.

While not a fitness "buff" (that in itself can limit one's freedom), I do exercise regularly with a mix of cardio and weights so I have both strength, stamina, and agility. I just got back from a 2 week vacation/road trip out west. Visited wineries, breweries, hiked in the Grand Canyon, climbed all over hills, forests, and white water rafted in rivers, etc. Exhilarating! I eat reasonably, but do enjoy my BBQ and beer! It's hard to be free if your health is really bad, and since we only get one body, it's a priority to take care of it!

Finances are kept readily available and in sufficient quantity via a combination of W-2 income, which also provides a reasonably low-cost medical insurance and rental properties (54 doors, about a 50/50 mix of residential and commercial). Also other side investments here and there. I have a military pension locked in already, assuming Uncle Sam doesn't go bankrupt in the meanwhile.

As far as scheduling goes, I get 6 weeks of paid time off per year. My boss is really flexible with it. I haven't been denied a requested time off in 14 years; it's more just planning in advance to make sure we have based covered. Who doesn't have to do that? Even self-employed guys like Brad need someone as the steady hand to steer the wheel while you're out galivanting around. I did plenty of galivanting on my recent trip, and while I was out I had a buddy/Realtor look after things for me. I kept in touch minimally via technology to have my handyman take care of a few things. Leased 2 units while I was on the road and wifey was driving. Whee!

Legal ability. As a responsible adult, I can do pretty much anything legal that anyone else can do. Staying out of trouble helps!

Imagination... some people are comfy letting others drive their lives almost 100%. I prefer an active role. About 90% of what I do is because I choose it. 10% comes from obligations that are mostly outside of my control, but I work to minimize the intrusions wherever possible. Have to pay taxes. Have to take a direct hand in things occasionally. Have to obey the speed limit when the Po-po are watching (hard when you're driving a Porsche convertible!). Delegate out all the none-essentials so I can stay razor focused on what is most valuable.

Freedom is earned by those who want it badly enough to do what it takes to get it, and to fight against the people and events that try to take it away.