Without thinking of “going Galt” I was well on my way toward that about 10 years ago. Once the house was paid off my expenses would be nigh unto nil, and I was raised on self-sufficient grow-your-own sensibilities, so at last “dropping out” (I was way too young to “retire”) was possible.
Then I met her, got hitched, moved, and had kids.
Not an option at this point.
Yeah. My wife and I met 14 years ago (just celebrated our 13th anniversary) and it was a brand new start for both of us. Between us we had six kids from previous marriages (her husband died of leukemia at 27 and mine divorced me “out of the blue” after 20 years). Our youngest moved out roughly 6 years ago. We’ve rented ever since we got married so moving was a piece of cake.
A lot of people don’t know this, but statistically, wages are higher in areas where more people rent. It is because renters can easily move to where the jobs and money are. Owning a home is a ball and chain, not that it does not have other advantages.