Financial independence means reaching a point in your life where you do not have to worry about money. Your income is completely independent from working for others and usually is the product of financial instruments or real estate investment.

As the pilot profession has gotten worse and worse I began to become increasingly uncomfortable with putting my head in the noose of an aviation career. Originally I saw aviation as a companion to my goals of financial independence however it began to become obvious that it was becoming more of an obstacle. A key component is to be able to utilize your spare time. Most of mine was being spent in a hotel room while I paid others to mow lawns and make repairs.

A path to financial independence needs to build momentum over time. Professional stability and becoming established in one area is important. Flying had me on the move every 6 months to three years. It is very difficult to get anything going when you are expecting to have to move all the time.

Eventually a lay off pushed me out onto the street and I was able to get going in the right direction. I still have a ways to go but I am on the right path. As our national economy continues to change over time I believe that everyone will begin to develop an urgency to work towards FI. Careers just can not provide what they use to. Retirement funds need to last much longer then in previous generations.

Skyhigh