The Preservation Phase

The Preservation Phase

A funny thing happens when your stress dreams change. When you stop worrying about daily stresses, being unprepared, and the multiple concerns of the busy professional. Instead, what arises, is a sincere hope to keep everything the same. You enter the preservation phase.

Unlike the accumulation stage, the idea is not to build more or greater. It is to maintain. But I think the term maintain is too simple. It leaves out all the mass of emotion, hope, and dreams.

There is a deep urge to keep everything the same.

Happy Medium

We all know that financial independence is not enough. It is a lever to pull when unhappiness arises in the daily grind of work. It is a plan B when plan A goes awry.

What determines ones path is what they do once they reach financial freedom. Many roads lie in front of us. At first, the choice can be bewildering. But with time and thoughtfulness, a fulfilling life awaits.

For everyone this may be different. Some may choose to travel while others will start a business. It may be time to write the great American novel or start training for a marathon. The possibilities are endless.

But once a decision has been made and a path has been chosen, a funny thing happens. We stop striving for more and start concentrating on the preservation phase.

We don’t want to build, or grow, or achieve. We just want everything to stay the same.

Getting Comfortable

I feel like I’m transitioning into the preservation phase. I’m not talking about money here. I’m talking about life. I have entered into a routine that both keeps me engaged but also energetic.

My weeks are full but not overflowing. I work a little everyday, but not too much. I have meetings in the middle of the week where I get to socially interact as well as work towards a an important societal goal.

There is plenty of time for creative endeavors. I get to create a podcast and write a blog post every morning. There is room for exercise as well as ample time for hobbies and reading.

I have all sorts of hopes and dreams for the future, but nothing is so pressing that I couldn’t work towards them immediately if need be.

Fears and Concerns

They are minimal. My only worry is that somehow I will have to change. That some great threat will appear out of nowhere, and disturb the sea of calm that has now overtaken my life.

Strange to know that after a lifetime of being stuck in the achievement treadmill, I find myself much less goal oriented. It’s not that I don’t still have mountains I’d like to climb, I just think I may take many more breaks in the meantime. Sit for awhile on each plateau and enjoy the view.

The preservation phase is all about the here and now.

Final Thoughts

I am still young. In terms of the traditional retirement, I would have a long way to go. Yet, financial independence and my half retirement have put me in an interesting place. I am not reaching a point of financial or emotional draw down. Nor am I still stuck in the accumulation stage. I am somewhere in between.

The preservation phase.

Hopefully I’ll stay here for the next few decades.