The year is 2039. Over the past 20 years we have seen the dawn of driverless cars. We have watched as a small colony is established on Mars. And robots; robots are everywhere now! Helping us clean. Shopping for us. Even embedded in our body.
But as much as things have changed, they have also largely stayed the same. Family time is still important to us and most every other person on our planet. People still go to work everyday to feed and clothe their children. College students still search for ¨the one¨ who they will be able to spend the rest of their lives with.
Even jobs haven´t changed much. Sure there are jobs that we never would have imagined back in 2019, but there are still office jobs and factory jobs and service jobs. The stuff that we are building and advertising has changed even though the types of jobs that we do have largely remained the same.
Future #1 (Michael):
On a more personal scale, you, Michael Thomas, have enjoyed the past 20 years. You are still married to your college sweetheart, you watched your 3 kids graduate from college, and you have enjoyed a successful ride up the corporate ladder. Although you worked for a variety of companies, you have always enjoyed promotions and prosperity.
With the help of your wife, you have always been able to provide for your 3 kids and have always been able to buy nice houses, vacations, and clothes. Everyone around you would say that you are a complete success.
Future #2 (Michelle):
Just like your twin brother Michael, you have also been successful. You, Michelle Thomas, were always one of the smarter kids in your grade and you continued your love of learning by becoming a professor at a university. You too married the love of your life and had 3 kids. And, just like Michael, all of your kids have finally graduated college and are out on their own.
As a matter of fact, while you were having a beer with your brother on his and your 50th birthday, you realized that both of your lives are pretty similar.
Actually, they are so similar that it is almost spooky. Not only do you both have 3 kids who recently graduated college, but you even found out that Michael makes almost the exact same amount of money that you do. Michael has a slightly bigger house, a fancier taste in cars, and his wife has a bigger diamond ring than you do. But otherwise, your lives are pretty similar:
Future #1 (Michael):
Like always on your birthday, you got the chance to sit down and talk with your twin sister before getting together to celebrate with the rest of your family. However, instead of light-hearted conversation and talking about the kids, the conversation quickly turned to the future.
After all, you had both just turned 50 and you were excited, and a little anxious about the next several years. Although you enjoyed your job, you were becoming burnt out by the excessive hours that you had to put in to get promotions at your various companies. Your sister commisserated, saying that the administration at her university had been forcing all of the staff to publish more often in addition to an already demanding teaching schedule.
¨I´m actually thinking of getting out soon,¨ she said.
Since you were thinking of doing the same thing, you just smiled and nodded along with Michelle.
¨Not only is her life similar to mine, but her career path is as well,¨ you thought.
Future #2 (Michelle):
It was actually really interesting and exciting to hear that her brother was thinking of retiring at the same time as her. What a cool thing to think about! Now they will have the chance to spend more time together. Maybe they can even go on a few vacations together or travel out west in an RV like they talked about when they were younger.
Although they always found time to get together, it was usually tough to see her brother since they both had demanding jobs and full-time family responsibilities. Their early retirement would finally give them a chance to hang out a little more and reconnect!
¨Actually, I won´t be completely retired,¨ you said. ¨I´m thinking of getting a part-time job at that bookstore just south of campus.¨
¨As a matter of fact, you should work there too once you retire. I know the owners and it will be easy to get you in.¨
Future #1 (Michael):
Wait a second! Did Michelle just say ¨retire?¨
Hilarious!
She is always joking around. No one retires at age 50!
Um … wait …
I think that she is actually serious. I thought she meant that she is just going to get a position at the other university in town. Retirement isn´t even a possibility for me. I mean … I´m only 50!
¨You´re going to retire? How in the world can you do that?¨
Future #2 (Michelle):
¨Yeah, I probably should have started saving earlier, but fortunately, I started putting a little bit of money away when I was 30. I just increased the amounts every year and eventually noticed that I had a ton of money in my retirement fund!¨
¨I suppose that I should probably wait for a couple more years,¨ you went on to say, ¨but I should be good according to the 4% rule. Plus, I´m getting sick of my job, so now is as good of a time as any to retire!¨
¨As a matter of fact, you probably have a bit of money saved up by now too. Since we seem to do everything the exact same, maybe we are even retiring on the same date?¨
Future #1 Michael:
¨I´m not retiring, Michelle,¨ you manage to stammer. ¨I was thinking of getting another job with a new company.¨
¨There´s no way that I can retire before at least 65, or maybe even 70.¨
¨I don´t have any money saved. My wife and I haven´t saved a dime for retirement.¨
As Michael and Michelle found out, sometimes we can make a choice that could lead us towards two completely different futures.
One allows us to take our family on trips around the world. The other does not. One allows us to pay for our kids to go to college. The other does not. One allows us to donate money to help end water shortages, protect the environment, and save endangered species. The other does not. One allows us to retire early. The other … does not.
Which future will you choose? Let us know in the comments.
And thanks for reading!
~Nathan
Let’s keep living a great life … with the help of money. So what’s next?
- You can travel for free by using rewards credit cards.
- You can get motivated and get out of debt.
- You can check out the next post or the previous post and continue to learn.
But no matter what you decide to do, let’s leave the ordinary behind and take action today!
