On the other hand, there are opportunities that are only open to you when you're young. Squandering those opportunities by working so you can be retired at 40 or 50 isn't free.
Meeting people in travel hostels would be one example. Being a young single on a beach abroad is another. Traveling in general is another.
Wandering around Prague with some beers and friends you made 6 hours ago hits different at 26 than it does as a retired 55 year old that waited to live their life.
I live on a beach in Mexico in my 30s and see both ends of the spectrum.
Yup, exactly. I know someone in their early 30s who just quit their job and went abroad to spend a month living on a beach learning how to surf. I'm in my mid-40s and can't fathom doing that. I could do that; have the finances and professional flexibility to support it, but the main thing is I just don't want to. The idea of living on a beach in somewhat uncomfortable conditions just doesn't appeal to me anymore. Some things I'd enjoy or tolerate 15 years ago are things that I just don't want to do today. But at the same time I'm disappointed I don't have experiences like that in my past to look back on fondly.
Don't get me wrong; my current situation is fantastic, and I'm in a much better place than I ever would have expected if you asked 25-year-old me where I'd be in nearly 20 years. But I'm still aware that there were paths I didn't take, paths that would have also made me happy.
I think it really depends on what people want. Some people want meeting others in hostels and that's perfectly fine. But I'd still say for the majority of us getting the FU money early has tremendous advantage.
Meeting people in travel hostels would be one example. Being a young single on a beach abroad is another. Traveling in general is another.
Wandering around Prague with some beers and friends you made 6 hours ago hits different at 26 than it does as a retired 55 year old that waited to live their life.
I live on a beach in Mexico in my 30s and see both ends of the spectrum.