Hi from Belgium! | New Member Introduction | Forums

Hi everybody,

As I just joined the board, I figured a little introduction was in place. My name is Ben, and I'm 22 years old. Ever since I was old enough to do so, my parents made me help out with whatever was going on at the house. As a kid I wasn't too happy about doing electrical work, gardening or helping dad build a new barn, but now I'm very grateful to have all those extra skills of course.

Right now I'm outfitting a boat to take on circumnavigate the Atlantic ocean with, but every now and again I can't help but wonder what I'll be doing with my life in the long run. Most all people in Belgium are what we call "wage-slaves", and I can't say I'm too enthousiastic about this lifestyle. Sure, it's easy and everything is arranged for you, but the minimum age of retirement right now is 67 years old. In neighbouring countries it's 70 or even 72, and that's hoping there will be money left to give us a decent pension...

I'm not really seeing much benefit in dreading to go to work every day of my life until my health won't allow it anymore or until I finally retire at a point in my life where I won't be able to fully enjoy retirement anymore. I'm not sure what will become of me in the long run, but it sure as hell won't be a "wage-slave". Perhaps a homesteader, fulfulling the my family's needs myself. Maybe even educate the people in my community on how to do the same (I'm a schoolteacher by education).

But I'm not too sure yet, hopefully this forum will provide me with some further insights