Re: [silk] In praise of slowness

[Shyam Sunder]

"maintaining my serenity was critical to being a good mother"

That sounds very profound, but I don't think I understood. Heather, could you 
please say more?

One inspiration for a full day of work that I draw from is the number of 
octogenarian politicians we see. Being alert and active, challenged each day, 
thrown curve balls all the time, somehow translates to good health and a full 
life, it seems.

Right now I am in the "will leave the office on a stretcher" kind of mindset, 
although I am sure that is nothing a few lousy days at a stretch couldn't set 
right

Sent from my iPhone
> On 24-Jan-2017, at 21:18, Heather Madrone  wrote:
> 
> maintaining my serenity was critical to being a good mother

Re: [silk] In praise of slowness

[Heather Madrone]

Shyam Sunder wrote:

 Their family perhaps doesn't want them hanging
 around all the time.


As in Sara Yogev's _For Better or for Worse, But Not for Lunch_?

You make an excellent argument, Shyam, that a person should know what 
they intend to do with their time when they slow down.


I switched over to the slow lane after the birth of my first child and 
spent > 25 years there as I raised and educated my brood. I had plenty 
to do and I had a purpose. I also got the message very early that 
maintaining my serenity was critical to being a good mother. I cut way 
back on busy-ness during that time and focused on the essential work of 
raising human beings to be happy, healthy, and productive adults.


Now that the children are well on their way, I want to merge back into 
the fast lane, to be part of the bustle and busy-ness, to do more than 
the part-time keeping-my-hand-in work that I have done for most of my 
adult life.


I have the time now to give more attention to the work that I've always 
loved. I want to merge back into the fast lane and enjoy a decade or two 
of intense effort and productivity.


My grandmother retired at 50. Over the next 43 years, her world shrank 
and she became peevish and cantankerous.


Perhaps as a result of her mother's example, my mother continued her 
psychotherapy practice until she was 75. Her brother intends to continue 
his law practice as long as he is able.


Our professions give us so much of who we are. They give us purpose and 
focus. They give us the satisfaction of making a contribution to 
society. They stimulate and irritate us and keep us from getting stagnant.


--hmm

Re: [silk] In praise of slowness

[Suresh Ramasubramanian]

On 24/01/17, 4:21 PM, Shyam Sunder wrote:

> I fear that the above describes someone who will wake up six months
> later with nothing to do during the day, and drives everyone around
> him / her up the wall! For someone aged 50, they need a plan that
> will last decades, not months

For that sort of guy a six month sabbatical from work followed by a job change 
might be just the ticket.  Or even a month’s vacation would be more than enough 
in most cases.

Re: [silk] In praise of slowness

[Bhaskar Dasgupta]

I think I'm in a different planet lol because every year I'm speeding up and 
doing more and more. 

Fun and games. 

Re: [silk] In praise of slowness

[Valsa Williams]

​I retired in July 2015 and not 2014 ! Sorry about the typo


Best regards,

Valsa



On 24 January 2017 at 17:32, Valsa Williams 
wrote:

> Interesting thread !
> There was an earlier thread on ‘To retire or not ‘. It motivated me to
> retire in July 2014. At Intel there is no retirement age, so I could have
> continued the 30 km commute, innumerable emails to respond to, a good
> salary package and trips to the US and rest of the world for many more
> years. The email thread on retirement had many comments, two of them which
> struck in my mind is – “No regular inflow of money into your bank” and “You
> get to see your spouse 24x7”!!! Both very true.
> However, I have finally found my space. slowed down from work but not from
> life ! I have enough time for my long walks, swimming, music, watching
> movies, hanging around with friends, staring at the rain with a cup of
> coffee.   I can take off for a holiday whenever I want. I plan to learn the
> piano this year ! I  spend my time on few topics of technical interest.
> However, it is not easy to earn as a Consultant. I am lucky that I still do
> some work for Intel.  Others that asked for my help, did not offer
> anything!
> My advise to those who plan to slow down is to ensure you keep developing
> your skills or learn new ones. Most importantly, have enough finances to
> back you up. The next big question would be 'how much' ??
>
>
> Valsa
>
>
>
> On 24 January 2017 at 16:39, Charles Haynes 
> wrote:
>
>> > the above probably doesn't apply to the typical intelligent,
>> multi-dimensional silk lister.
>>
>> Hah. It especially applies to people who think it doesn't apply to them. I
>> found when I first started "slowing down" that my partner and I, as much
>> as
>> we love and are devoted to one another, need a certain amount of "our own"
>> time. That if we spend all of our time together we are less happy than if
>> we spend a certain amount of it apart. So we have that built in.
>>
>> For me "slowing down" has meant spending more time doing fewer things but
>> really paying attention to the things I do.
>>
>> -- Charles
>>
>> On Tue, 24 Jan 2017 at 21:51 Shyam Sunder 
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Fascinating thread. I have a slightly contrarian view.
>> >
>> > Probably not very relevant to silklisters but I am very wary when my
>> > clients talk about early retirement. Not because they would put their
>> > financial independence at risk, but because they hugely overestimate
>> their
>> > ability to fill the day with meaningful pursuits. A typical conversation
>> > (which occurs very frequently, I might add) would go along the lines of
>> >
>> > Client - I would like to explore retirement by 50.
>> > Shyam - Given your financial situation, it is quite likely you will be
>> > able to do that from a financial perspective. But what do you plan to do
>> > after you retire?
>> > Client - I really want to make time for the things I enjoy. I want to
>> > spend more time with the family (First red flare), travel (second red
>> > flare), and volunteer my time with NGOs (big third red flare) or
>> coaching
>> > young professionals or start-ups
>> > Shyam - Great. How specific are your plans?
>> > Client - What do you mean?
>> > Shyam - Is there a specific NGO you have already been associated with? /
>> > Do you currently mentor start-ups or coach?
>> > Client - Not really. But I am sure I can easily figure that out. I
>> mean, I
>> > don't want any money for it.
>> >
>> > I fear that the above describes someone who will wake up six months
>> later
>> > with nothing to do during the day, and drives everyone around him / her
>> up
>> > the wall! For someone aged 50, they need a plan that will last decades,
>> not
>> > months. Their family perhaps doesn't want them hanging around all the
>> time.
>> > Their life's travels can be completed in six months, and reasonably
>> > well-run NGOs want a volunteer who comes and wishes to
>> > optimize/streamline/improve the set-up like they want a bullet to the
>> head.
>> > For many, work gives them identity and self-worth. My advice for someone
>> > without specifics is to work for as long as they can. For most people,
>> > there is 20% of the job that makes the remaining 80% worth it.
>> >
>> > Like I said at the beginning, the above probably doesn't apply to the
>> > typical intelligent, multi-dimensional silklister.
>> >
>> > Warm regards
>> >
>> > Shyam
>> >
>> > -Original Message-
>> > From: silklist [mailto:silklist-bounces+shyam.sunder=
>> > peakalpha@lists.hserus.net] On Behalf Of Vijay Anand
>> > Sent: 24 January 2017 11:06
>> > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
>> > Subject: Re: [silk] In praise of slowness
>> >
>> > "Slowing down" - the phase in life when making money is not the priority
>> > anymore and there is the intention to expand to other interests that
>> have
>> > been at best side projects, so that they get focus.
>> >
>> > It 

Re: [silk] In praise of slowness

[Valsa Williams]

Interesting thread !
There was an earlier thread on ‘To retire or not ‘. It motivated me to
retire in July 2014. At Intel there is no retirement age, so I could have
continued the 30 km commute, innumerable emails to respond to, a good
salary package and trips to the US and rest of the world for many more
years. The email thread on retirement had many comments, two of them which
struck in my mind is – “No regular inflow of money into your bank” and “You
get to see your spouse 24x7”!!! Both very true.
However, I have finally found my space. slowed down from work but not from
life ! I have enough time for my long walks, swimming, music, watching
movies, hanging around with friends, staring at the rain with a cup of
coffee.   I can take off for a holiday whenever I want. I plan to learn the
piano this year ! I  spend my time on few topics of technical interest.
However, it is not easy to earn as a Consultant. I am lucky that I still do
some work for Intel.  Others that asked for my help, did not offer
anything!
My advise to those who plan to slow down is to ensure you keep developing
your skills or learn new ones. Most importantly, have enough finances to
back you up. The next big question would be 'how much' ??


Valsa



On 24 January 2017 at 16:39, Charles Haynes 
wrote:

> > the above probably doesn't apply to the typical intelligent,
> multi-dimensional silk lister.
>
> Hah. It especially applies to people who think it doesn't apply to them. I
> found when I first started "slowing down" that my partner and I, as much as
> we love and are devoted to one another, need a certain amount of "our own"
> time. That if we spend all of our time together we are less happy than if
> we spend a certain amount of it apart. So we have that built in.
>
> For me "slowing down" has meant spending more time doing fewer things but
> really paying attention to the things I do.
>
> -- Charles
>
> On Tue, 24 Jan 2017 at 21:51 Shyam Sunder 
> wrote:
>
> > Fascinating thread. I have a slightly contrarian view.
> >
> > Probably not very relevant to silklisters but I am very wary when my
> > clients talk about early retirement. Not because they would put their
> > financial independence at risk, but because they hugely overestimate
> their
> > ability to fill the day with meaningful pursuits. A typical conversation
> > (which occurs very frequently, I might add) would go along the lines of
> >
> > Client - I would like to explore retirement by 50.
> > Shyam - Given your financial situation, it is quite likely you will be
> > able to do that from a financial perspective. But what do you plan to do
> > after you retire?
> > Client - I really want to make time for the things I enjoy. I want to
> > spend more time with the family (First red flare), travel (second red
> > flare), and volunteer my time with NGOs (big third red flare) or coaching
> > young professionals or start-ups
> > Shyam - Great. How specific are your plans?
> > Client - What do you mean?
> > Shyam - Is there a specific NGO you have already been associated with? /
> > Do you currently mentor start-ups or coach?
> > Client - Not really. But I am sure I can easily figure that out. I mean,
> I
> > don't want any money for it.
> >
> > I fear that the above describes someone who will wake up six months later
> > with nothing to do during the day, and drives everyone around him / her
> up
> > the wall! For someone aged 50, they need a plan that will last decades,
> not
> > months. Their family perhaps doesn't want them hanging around all the
> time.
> > Their life's travels can be completed in six months, and reasonably
> > well-run NGOs want a volunteer who comes and wishes to
> > optimize/streamline/improve the set-up like they want a bullet to the
> head.
> > For many, work gives them identity and self-worth. My advice for someone
> > without specifics is to work for as long as they can. For most people,
> > there is 20% of the job that makes the remaining 80% worth it.
> >
> > Like I said at the beginning, the above probably doesn't apply to the
> > typical intelligent, multi-dimensional silklister.
> >
> > Warm regards
> >
> > Shyam
> >
> > -Original Message-
> > From: silklist [mailto:silklist-bounces+shyam.sunder=
> > peakalpha@lists.hserus.net] On Behalf Of Vijay Anand
> > Sent: 24 January 2017 11:06
> > To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> > Subject: Re: [silk] In praise of slowness
> >
> > "Slowing down" - the phase in life when making money is not the priority
> > anymore and there is the intention to expand to other interests that have
> > been at best side projects, so that they get focus.
> >
> > It seems that the more i read the viewpoints, unless and if there is a) a
> > significant windfall that money isnt a big concern anymore or b) you make
> > the financial planning so that  there is an insurance of sorts so that
> > something doesnt take you unaware - worse put your dependents ar risk,
> 

Re: [silk] In praise of slowness

[Charles Haynes]

> the above probably doesn't apply to the typical intelligent,
multi-dimensional silk lister.

Hah. It especially applies to people who think it doesn't apply to them. I
found when I first started "slowing down" that my partner and I, as much as
we love and are devoted to one another, need a certain amount of "our own"
time. That if we spend all of our time together we are less happy than if
we spend a certain amount of it apart. So we have that built in.

For me "slowing down" has meant spending more time doing fewer things but
really paying attention to the things I do.

-- Charles

On Tue, 24 Jan 2017 at 21:51 Shyam Sunder 
wrote:

> Fascinating thread. I have a slightly contrarian view.
>
> Probably not very relevant to silklisters but I am very wary when my
> clients talk about early retirement. Not because they would put their
> financial independence at risk, but because they hugely overestimate their
> ability to fill the day with meaningful pursuits. A typical conversation
> (which occurs very frequently, I might add) would go along the lines of
>
> Client - I would like to explore retirement by 50.
> Shyam - Given your financial situation, it is quite likely you will be
> able to do that from a financial perspective. But what do you plan to do
> after you retire?
> Client - I really want to make time for the things I enjoy. I want to
> spend more time with the family (First red flare), travel (second red
> flare), and volunteer my time with NGOs (big third red flare) or coaching
> young professionals or start-ups
> Shyam - Great. How specific are your plans?
> Client - What do you mean?
> Shyam - Is there a specific NGO you have already been associated with? /
> Do you currently mentor start-ups or coach?
> Client - Not really. But I am sure I can easily figure that out. I mean, I
> don't want any money for it.
>
> I fear that the above describes someone who will wake up six months later
> with nothing to do during the day, and drives everyone around him / her up
> the wall! For someone aged 50, they need a plan that will last decades, not
> months. Their family perhaps doesn't want them hanging around all the time.
> Their life's travels can be completed in six months, and reasonably
> well-run NGOs want a volunteer who comes and wishes to
> optimize/streamline/improve the set-up like they want a bullet to the head.
> For many, work gives them identity and self-worth. My advice for someone
> without specifics is to work for as long as they can. For most people,
> there is 20% of the job that makes the remaining 80% worth it.
>
> Like I said at the beginning, the above probably doesn't apply to the
> typical intelligent, multi-dimensional silklister.
>
> Warm regards
>
> Shyam
>
> -Original Message-
> From: silklist [mailto:silklist-bounces+shyam.sunder=
> peakalpha@lists.hserus.net] On Behalf Of Vijay Anand
> Sent: 24 January 2017 11:06
> To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
> Subject: Re: [silk] In praise of slowness
>
> "Slowing down" - the phase in life when making money is not the priority
> anymore and there is the intention to expand to other interests that have
> been at best side projects, so that they get focus.
>
> It seems that the more i read the viewpoints, unless and if there is a) a
> significant windfall that money isnt a big concern anymore or b) you make
> the financial planning so that  there is an insurance of sorts so that
> something doesnt take you unaware - worse put your dependents ar risk, this
> is a hard one to pull off.
>
> I often mind myself going back to a bookmarked linked of self-sustainable
> farms. An acre or two of land, grow what you want and get away from the
> race of making your monthly commitments, seems like a dream. BUT...
>
> 1. Any self sufficient farm thingerie is a lot of upfront capital - to
> cure the land, and setup things needed for substanence - food, water,
> electricity.
>
> 2. Given the scenario with the government where the apt definition is
> "revolutionary governance", and what holds value, suddenly goes out of it
> and land reform policies might be on the horizon, i wonder if any of the
> planning we do would be free of risks.
>
> 3. All said and done, to keep up with inflation we need an asset that goes
> up in value and creates liquidity over time, as agri for eg will never be a
> commercially successful enterprise (atleast at that scale). And building
> assets right now, take a lifetime in India.
>
> Vijay
>
> On Jan 24, 2017 10:54 AM, "Venkatesh H R"  wrote:
>
> > It is a terrific experience reading all your thoughts. To me, it
> > appears that most people, when talking about slowing down, are just
> > referring to removing clutter from their lives. It doesn't mean they
> > are actually slowing down.
> > Indeed, in some respects they might be working harder on a few aspects
> > of their life than ever before! Of course, there is a good chance I'm
> > mistaken in this 

Re: [silk] In praise of slowness

[Shyam Sunder]

Fascinating thread. I have a slightly contrarian view. 

Probably not very relevant to silklisters but I am very wary when my clients 
talk about early retirement. Not because they would put their financial 
independence at risk, but because they hugely overestimate their ability to 
fill the day with meaningful pursuits. A typical conversation (which occurs 
very frequently, I might add) would go along the lines of

Client - I would like to explore retirement by 50.
Shyam - Given your financial situation, it is quite likely you will be able to 
do that from a financial perspective. But what do you plan to do after you 
retire?
Client - I really want to make time for the things I enjoy. I want to spend 
more time with the family (First red flare), travel (second red flare), and 
volunteer my time with NGOs (big third red flare) or coaching young 
professionals or start-ups
Shyam - Great. How specific are your plans?
Client - What do you mean?
Shyam - Is there a specific NGO you have already been associated with? / Do you 
currently mentor start-ups or coach?
Client - Not really. But I am sure I can easily figure that out. I mean, I 
don't want any money for it.

I fear that the above describes someone who will wake up six months later with 
nothing to do during the day, and drives everyone around him / her up the wall! 
For someone aged 50, they need a plan that will last decades, not months. Their 
family perhaps doesn't want them hanging around all the time. Their life's 
travels can be completed in six months, and reasonably well-run NGOs want a 
volunteer who comes and wishes to optimize/streamline/improve the set-up like 
they want a bullet to the head. For many, work gives them identity and 
self-worth. My advice for someone without specifics is to work for as long as 
they can. For most people, there is 20% of the job that makes the remaining 80% 
worth it. 

Like I said at the beginning, the above probably doesn't apply to the typical 
intelligent, multi-dimensional silklister.

Warm regards

Shyam

-Original Message-
From: silklist 
[mailto:silklist-bounces+shyam.sunder=peakalpha@lists.hserus.net] On Behalf 
Of Vijay Anand
Sent: 24 January 2017 11:06
To: silklist@lists.hserus.net
Subject: Re: [silk] In praise of slowness

"Slowing down" - the phase in life when making money is not the priority 
anymore and there is the intention to expand to other interests that have been 
at best side projects, so that they get focus.

It seems that the more i read the viewpoints, unless and if there is a) a 
significant windfall that money isnt a big concern anymore or b) you make the 
financial planning so that  there is an insurance of sorts so that something 
doesnt take you unaware - worse put your dependents ar risk, this is a hard one 
to pull off.

I often mind myself going back to a bookmarked linked of self-sustainable 
farms. An acre or two of land, grow what you want and get away from the race of 
making your monthly commitments, seems like a dream. BUT...

1. Any self sufficient farm thingerie is a lot of upfront capital - to cure the 
land, and setup things needed for substanence - food, water, electricity.

2. Given the scenario with the government where the apt definition is 
"revolutionary governance", and what holds value, suddenly goes out of it and 
land reform policies might be on the horizon, i wonder if any of the planning 
we do would be free of risks.

3. All said and done, to keep up with inflation we need an asset that goes up 
in value and creates liquidity over time, as agri for eg will never be a 
commercially successful enterprise (atleast at that scale). And building assets 
right now, take a lifetime in India.

Vijay

On Jan 24, 2017 10:54 AM, "Venkatesh H R"  wrote:

> It is a terrific experience reading all your thoughts. To me, it 
> appears that most people, when talking about slowing down, are just 
> referring to removing clutter from their lives. It doesn't mean they 
> are actually slowing down.
> Indeed, in some respects they might be working harder on a few aspects 
> of their life than ever before! Of course, there is a good chance I'm 
> mistaken in this assumption.
> For what it's worth, I too am slowing down in my own way. 2012 was the 
> last time we had TV at home. And this year, I'm planning to cut down 
> significantly on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. There is a 
> dynamic tension to this, because I depend on social media to 
> distribute my work and listen to others. So I will still use these - 
> but not on my mobile phone. For me, this is equivalent to slowing 
> down. I've just been reading Deep Work by Cal Newport, the Georgetown 
> Uni Computer Science Professor. And he is in praise of some radical 
> retooling of our calendars and priorities.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jan 24, 2017 12:16 AM, Venkatesh Hariharan ven...@gmail.com
> wrote:
> John, thanks for your hones answers. It's been enlightening to read 
> all 

Re: [silk] In praise of slowness

[Suresh Ramasubramanian]

I’ve managed to work from home across three employers since 2002.

So – well, extremely flexible working hours that let me take breaks off to pick 
my kids up from school and such, in return for crazy work hours early in the 
morning and late at night (well, if you work with colleagues stateside what 
better times do you have to ensure that you can talk to them?)

This at least has meant that I can keep up with family time, buying and 
furnishing a house, quizzing, facebook and such to fill in the intervals 
between frenetic work.

The one thing I possibly regret – or maybe not - is getting email and work apps 
on a phone early on – it simply means that I’m never away from work even when 
I’m on holiday, or sick in a hospital bed (lay on one for a week, and work, fb, 
work, fb type routines are what kept me sane during intervals of high fever, 
being shot full of IV antibiotics and cavalierly poked and prodded about by 
doctors)

On 24/01/17, 1:26 PM, "silklist on behalf of rajeev chakravarthi" 
 wrote:

This post touched a nerve. Here's my experience -

I used to be an investment banker and corporate strategy (or stragedy, if
you like) person. Pursuant to a showdown with the boss, I took a break in
late 2011. Here's how I spent my time (or, as Terry Pratchett once wrote,
"What I did in my holidays")

Re: [silk] In praise of slowness

[Rajesh Mehar]

>>2. Studied piano. Played 3 piano concerts (as part of a group of pianists)
at St. Andrews Auditorium in Mumbai (with a proper audience, before you
ask). Also played a father-son concert with my older son.
3. Learnt how to read and write music. Used that to transcribe specific
songs that I've always liked - this led to interesting experiments in
arranging alternative approaches to songs, such as different tempi, bass
lines, flourishes at various places in the score...
Also ended up composing a few pieces for piano.  <<

Hey Rajeev, I would love to see any videos of your piano performances. And
also listen to any new arrangements you've created.


>
>