Civilization is a machine, and you are just a part in that machine that wears out after about 20-30 years, then you either go into management or some other role that isn't physically productive.
Capitalism loves consumption, and the young consume/can be sold to, so civilization is broadly structured around that.
Sort of like the "hot young girl" who loses her appeal rapidly after age 30, this gradual rug-pulling is unnerving. The ground rules shift under your feet. Things you thought were fact, actually were circumstances of the time and place.
All of a sudden, you start understanding your parents, older people, and life situations that were once abstract and far away, and now are more concrete. The progressive commercials are great little parodies of this.
At the same time, you have lived a few pop culture cycles. You start to see the treadmill for what it is rather than all these amazing experiences and things you didn't know about when you were young.
Observations:
1) 35 is not too late to get in good shape. Not the "I walk a couple miles" activity that puts you in the upper quartile of our population. I mean in ACTUAL good shape like being able to run a marathon and bench press your weight. If you do this, your "functional age" will be vastly suppressed throughout the next 25-40 years and the range of options available to you is a lot greater. Be careful though of overtraining in your 30s. Don't listen to dumb 20 year olds whose muscle and ligaments are at the height of their plasticity and durability.
2) you're probably a dude. You can start a family in the next 15 years, your situation is not as dire as a 35 year old woman. But you should get on it.
3) basically you're probably done with the gambling phase of your career. Sure you can keep chasing startups, but really you should have skills and just settle into more regular and predictable income.
4) 500k is a decent chunk, but it ain't retirement-grade. You should start concentrating on growing that rather than moonshooting for another million. I would disagree with "go traveling". That's expensive in cost, time, and missed income. Plus, you are ancient in terms of silicon valley, and getting old in IT in other markets. If you don't want to go into management, you'll need to maximize your sweet spot of your career in terms of reliable income.
Or... you don't? Maybe you need to chuck the entire career thing, put 400k into funds that you don't touch for 20 years and go live an entirely different life and lifestyle? Chuck all the financial shit I mentioned.
But get in good shape. Seriously, that makes SUCH a huge difference now that I'm in the late 40s-50s phase of my life. What is the fountain of youth? Exercise. Exercise often has built-in socializing as well, and makes you better looking, which has built-in social effects as well.
Capitalism loves consumption, and the young consume/can be sold to, so civilization is broadly structured around that.
Sort of like the "hot young girl" who loses her appeal rapidly after age 30, this gradual rug-pulling is unnerving. The ground rules shift under your feet. Things you thought were fact, actually were circumstances of the time and place.
All of a sudden, you start understanding your parents, older people, and life situations that were once abstract and far away, and now are more concrete. The progressive commercials are great little parodies of this.
At the same time, you have lived a few pop culture cycles. You start to see the treadmill for what it is rather than all these amazing experiences and things you didn't know about when you were young.
Observations:
1) 35 is not too late to get in good shape. Not the "I walk a couple miles" activity that puts you in the upper quartile of our population. I mean in ACTUAL good shape like being able to run a marathon and bench press your weight. If you do this, your "functional age" will be vastly suppressed throughout the next 25-40 years and the range of options available to you is a lot greater. Be careful though of overtraining in your 30s. Don't listen to dumb 20 year olds whose muscle and ligaments are at the height of their plasticity and durability.
2) you're probably a dude. You can start a family in the next 15 years, your situation is not as dire as a 35 year old woman. But you should get on it.
3) basically you're probably done with the gambling phase of your career. Sure you can keep chasing startups, but really you should have skills and just settle into more regular and predictable income.
4) 500k is a decent chunk, but it ain't retirement-grade. You should start concentrating on growing that rather than moonshooting for another million. I would disagree with "go traveling". That's expensive in cost, time, and missed income. Plus, you are ancient in terms of silicon valley, and getting old in IT in other markets. If you don't want to go into management, you'll need to maximize your sweet spot of your career in terms of reliable income.
Or... you don't? Maybe you need to chuck the entire career thing, put 400k into funds that you don't touch for 20 years and go live an entirely different life and lifestyle? Chuck all the financial shit I mentioned.
But get in good shape. Seriously, that makes SUCH a huge difference now that I'm in the late 40s-50s phase of my life. What is the fountain of youth? Exercise. Exercise often has built-in socializing as well, and makes you better looking, which has built-in social effects as well.