Shelly and I get quite a few questions about our lifestyle. Specifically, how do we balance generating income with adventure? As I discussed in this article, we need money to survive. As much as I like to rant against rampant materialism, reality dictates we make at least some money. Even though poverty is an interesting adventure, teaches excellent survival skills, and makes us appreciate anything and everything around us, it sucks. Worse, a lack of money can dramatically limit our ability to capitalize on some opportunities for adventure.

Of course, spending too much time working causes the same fundamental problems. While we gain material comfort and a degree of security, we lose our most valuable possession- time. We usually follow a familiar script- acquire some form of training (college, for example), land a decent job, steadily climb the ladder, spend increasingly more money to match our rising income, eventually feel trapped in a career that no longer fulfills us, suffer until retirement.

So how do we find that balance?

1. Decide what you really need. This includes the all the “necessities” you need to survive and still be content. Aside from the obvious food and shelter, this list can include things like Internet (a necessity for us for business purposes), insurance, rent, coffee, an occasional night out on the town, our mma gym membership… whatever.

2. Make a budget. Account for everything we need, then account for money to be directed toward savings. Savings is critical for the adventurous person because it will help us navigate the inevitable lean times. My own personal savings goal is to accumulate one year’s worth of expenses as determined by the needs from above. Six months will be sufficient; three months could be considered a bare minimum. I also like to have about $1,000 that is easily accessible to use as an emergency fund (a Dave Ramsey concept) which would be used in emergencies so the savings doesn’t have to be disturbed.

3. Develop multiple income streams to match the budget. The goal is to spend as little time as possible working to reach the necessary income level. This is the opposite of what most people do, but is MUCH more effective. We develop several streams in case one suddenly dries up, which prevents a catastrophe. This was a painful lesson to learn. I failed to nurture several of my income streams during times of plenty which resulted in a bit of a crisis.

Our current income streams include traditional part-time jobs- Shelly works with preschoolers and I work as a receiver at a lumber company. They also include income from writing via the Squirrel Wipe book, running clinics which I occasionally conduct, Shelly’s online freelance data processing gigs via eLance, advertising on BRU, and affiliate programs via Amazon (for example, if you buy anything by following this link, we get a small kick-back with no charge to the people buying stuff.)

Some of the income streams can be done from anywhere (writing, freelance data processing.) Some require little or no time or effort (affiliates and advertising.) Some provide contact with other people (preschool.) Some provide a great workout (lumber yard.) They key to all of them- they provide some income that provides some degree of enjoyment. Best of all- we don’t need any single one.

Accounting for Serendipity

The advantage of this lifestyle is the ability to allow for serendipity. The traditional “career -> retirement” lifestyle isn’t especially flexible. If an interesting opportunity for adventure comes along, it can be nearly impossible to make the leap.

By contrast, this flexible lifestyle is designed to allow for the possibility of adventure. That adventure could be an opportunity to travel to unknown lands. It could come in the form of an interesting job opportunity. There are no limits to the possibilities.

The location-independent and “automatic” income steams coupled with robust savings and a minimal lifestyle can give us the freedom to leave traditional location-dependent jobs for a very long time while still enjoying the things we really enjoy.

In other words, it’s a method to live a life worth living.

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