I am sitting here with less than a week left of my 12 weeks of parental leave from working as a federal librarian. My newborn daughter is in her automatic swing sleeping in front of me, while my three dogs sleep around my small house located in rural middle America. My job is very comfortable and my salary is moderately higher than median. One of the reasons I chose the librarian profession, though requiring a master’s degree and generally not paying very well, is because it should be low-stress and I can perform this job well into my old age. I am extremely grateful of the life I live.
So why am I interested in finance and more specifically FIRE (Financial Independence, Retiring Early)? I want to provide a good life for my wife and family. I want my newborn to be able to attend college without going into debt. Finding a new job as a librarian can be extremely time-intensive so if I get a new boss and am miserable I want what JL Collins calls FU money. This is money to separate from my employer and go my own way for as long as it takes. That is the true power that money can bring. The ability to have the exact life you want.
Millionaire Librarian 