My early retirement side hustle still thrills and this sweet little two and half month gig is quickly coming to its conclusion. Realistically I have about two weeks maximum left to deliver the finished product so that the client has time to review and ask for any changes before funding ends.

The work result is a comprehensive documentation of this large Cable and Telecommunication Company’s billing mediation code. the code that their billing system uses for inter-exchange access billing. The code grew and got more complicated over the years with the implementation of Local Number Portability. It seems that the software developers who would program the code changes and additions didn’t do the best job of documenting anything.

I am sure this project comes as a big snooze to my readers. But I can honestly say that this has been the best gig I have had in many years. It hits on what I love to do best. The time has really flown and I have learned a lot of new skills. But more importantly I also learned more about what it is I really enjoy working on. Also how I prefer to do things and what makes for a rewarding and interesting way to earn some extra money. Aside from the actual project itself I have found a few added factors that really sets this gig apart from anything I have done before.

Why this early retirement side hustle still thrills

Flexibility.

I have for the most part enjoyed going into the office. After being retired for a while I wondered if I would have a case of the “Mondays” all week-long even though I loved the project. I think the biggest pain for the working person is commuting to the office. Nothing starts your day off in the dumper like spending an unreasonable amount of time in traffic.

This gig allowed me the flexibility to offset my hours slightly to avoid the morning crush. This is probably the first time I have been allowed to do this to the extent I have now. It does make a huge difference. If I ever take another side hustle or start another career, guess what I will be negotiating for. Yep, a flexible start time.

Going Solo.

I am pretty much on my own. There is a support team working the day-to-day operations. I can ask them questions of or get advice but it is seldom needed. I do enjoy the social aspect of the office setting. But this is the first time I have been able to sit at a desk and just do my thing on a dedicated project. Work all day without meetings after meetings about everything and anything. Or having to stop to do another emergency project. I went in, sat down, and could get to work and stay on task pretty much all day except for a weekly thirty-minute staff meeting and a bi-weekly thirty-minute project status meeting.

I always wondered what it would be like to not have a bunch of daily meetings or multiple priority-competing projects to be responsible for. Now I know and it is being more productive and is far more enjoyable.

Totally Relaxed.

Since this is an early retirement side hustle and not a ladder-climbing career. I was able to relax and just chill out. I go in every day having a good time and not taking myself so seriously. I don’t have the stress of thinking I need to perform at super-employee levels. No trying to impress my leadership so that I can get that bonus, raise, or promotion. I am an early retired Leisure Freak working when I want to work. Only working on what I want to work on. Financial independence ROCKS! I have actually had this skill-to-chill mastered since my first early retirement but this time it feels even better.

What’s Next?

At this time I don’t know if there will be an offer to extend the contract for a few more months. I do feel great having been totally honest with them when I was being rationally unreasonable. Setting my boundaries for accepting an extension. If it comes then great. If not even better. I can then return to my early retirement and look forward to whatever comes next. It is an adventure.

The wonderful thing about my “retire early and often” journey is getting paid while learning new skills and being able to do things I am interested in and passionate about. I also learn more and more about what it is that really makes me tick which will help me be better at recognizing the best passion-driven opportunities when they do come around.

This early retirement side hustle still thrills me and I have to say that I am not too surprised by that. I am picky before accepting going back to work. Have you thought about what it is that you love most about your job, career, or business?

Or, have you thought about what it would take for you to call your early retirement as over to start an encore career or as I just did, do an early retirement side hustle?