Thoughts and reflections from the past week or so from my own financial independence campaign.

(Actually, this time it has been two weeks – my bad. Sorry, all!)

Progress on my goals

Boat plan

Things are starting to slot into place – slowly.

The inside of the boat is configured sort of how we want it to be, which is a great start.

Starlink is actually brilliant. Being able to access fast internet from the boat gives us access to educational resources like YouTube with very little effort. That’s important because we do most of our own maintenance and repairs.

We’ve gotten used to routine aboard. Even our food shopping now has a kind of rhythm to it, as we know when to bulk cook or when each of us are away for dinner.

The dog is now comfortable on the pontoons and is clearly curious about boarding, so even though he isn’t aboard yet I’m happy that progress is being made.

Taking my own lunches to work

I’m in a pretty good rhythm now, so I reckon I can leave this off further updates. Prepping lunch while dinner is on the hob has become a habit, which is pretty cool.

Even with the fanciest sandwiches I’m saving quite a bit compared to my colleagues. It’s easily half the price of a sad fridge meal from the local Co-op.

Distractions and detours

Potential business

I mentioned a few updates ago that I might have scope to set off on my own as a consultant here in the Channel Islands.

Well, part of the reason I’ve been so tardy with this update is that I’ve been working on a business plan and doing some market research.

I can’t reveal too much on this blog, but it’s an exciting prospect and I reckon there’s an idea in there somewhere, it just needs refinement as an offering.

In case you’re wondering: while I don’t necessarily believe that the Millionaire Fastlane approach is the way to go, I’d be keen to own my time. Law is a backwards industry when it comes to things like part-time or flexible working, even though it’s completely possible to do.

If I was in England, I’d push on and become a freelance solicitor. However, even though I’m English and Welsh law qualified, I’d be working remotely or from the Channel Islands. That’s no bueno, not because my regulator wouldn’t allow it (there are work-arounds for “non-reserved legal activities” like the corporate law stuff I do) but because the insurance market pretty much tells you to do one.

No insurance? Big personal liability risks. Not a good shout when your job makes you a target for litigation and regulators.

Non-FIRE goals

My guitar rock god quest (AKA learning to play)

Fingerpicking is continuing, but Fool on the Hill wasn’t working out for me, so we’ve gone for a simpler song and we’re playing the Sting and the Police song, Every Step You Take. The rhythm is straight quavers, so timing is easy.

In the background I’ve been playing chords along with pop songs. I’m generally a rock and metal fan, but pop songs are about the singer and that means the music accompaniment is a bit easier for a newbie like me. Elastic Heart by Sia and Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo took a bit of adaptation but I can kind-of play along with the music.

I’m also trying to learn White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane/ Starship (I think it was Airplane at the time that song was released). I’ve always liked the weird structure and build-up to the crescendo at the end.

Fitness

For the last two weeks I’ve stuck to either cycling to work and back or jogging in with my backpack and getting the bus home.

It’s good to by getting fitness back in as a routine event. I’ve missed this. There are things I don’t miss about the military, but fitness is a big thing that isn’t easy to build into civvy life.

At some point I’m going to need to return to upper body exercise, but it’s a good baseline of activity that I’m happy with for now.

Final thoughts

Things are going pretty well, even though I’m particularly busy.

Boat life has, despite this being a grim winter, turned out to be exactly the adventure I’d hoped it would be. Obviously, the big dream is to hit CoastFI and travel, but for now even just living aboard and operating is a huge win for us.

Maybe the boat plan will come to nothing. Maybe this potential business investigation will come to nothing. Whatever. I’m quite happy trying things out, and if one or both of them work then the impact to how I own my time will be huge.

My financial independence campaign continues!