One of my all-time favorite stories is that of the Mexican fisherman and the investment banker. For those who aren't familiar with the fable, the gist is that we often spend the majority of our lives chasing wealth and prestige that will bring us happiness in retirement, when in fact we can get there much sooner by simply choosing to live a simpler life. To me, the idea of spending our healthiest and most vibrant decades toiling at a job where the days and weeks run together in order to retire when we are too old to really enjoy it seems like a shitty trade off.

I often think about what it takes to be happy, which obviously differs from person to person. Some people dream of traveling around the world, bouncing from place to place unencumbered. Others want to start a business or write a book. Some people want nothing more than to have a family and spend time at home. Others are driven to pursue career success at all costs. Whatever the goal, it can be much closer than we realize if we play things smartly.

Imagine for a moment what you would do if your basic needs were covered by some recurring source of income that hit your bank account each month like clockwork. Perhaps you've accumulated a sum large enough sum to throw off a sufficient interest payment (the typical retirement goal). Maybe you own or run a business that produces steady income independent of your time. Better yet, you could be a Publishers Clearing House winner. What would you do? A common response, memorialized by Peter Gibbons in Office Space, is doing absolutely nothing. While this would surely be fun for a day, a week or maybe even a year, it would eventually become quite boring. What most people would do, I think, is spend time on things that bring joy into their life. With food, shelter, clothing, and a few small luxuries like a mobile phone bill covered, you might learn to cook, or read the classics, or spend more time outdoors. If you have a strong network of professional contacts, you might meet with them to brainstorm ideas for new passion projects. If you have any useful or sought-after skills, you might lend your expertise to companies that you find interesting. Over time, these things will most likely generate income. Eventually, not only are your basic needs covered but you find yourself with a few diversified sources of income, a hallmark of most millionaires.

If that sounds interesting to you, then the question becomes “how do I get there?” One way is to avoid the trappings of American life: big house, multiple car payments, club membership. If you really think hard, you’ll realize you don’t actually need any of these things. Or rather, you don't need the biggest house or the fanciest car you "can afford." The worst thing is that once you get pulled into this world, it is virtually impossible to drag yourself out. On the other hand, if you can keep your expenses low, the income you need to cover the basics becomes more achievable. One of the best resources for this type of thinking is Mr. Money Mustache, who has built a significant following by focusing on living a simple but exceedingly happy life.

Personally, I’m still trying to figure this all out for myself. I have always made a conscious effort to live well below my means (another value instilled by my grandmother), but living in New York certainly makes that challenging. I like nice things. If I see something I want, I'll buy it. However, I almost never buy things I don't actually need. While I am proud to have purchased my first apartment by age 30, it has come with plenty of headaches, and in the event my wife and I want to leave New York, doing so will be more complicated than if we were renting.

When I think about my own future and what happiness looks like, “freedom” is the word that stands out more than any other. Freedom to not be tied to any physical location. Freedom to schedule my days however I see fit. Freedom to work on interesting projects with people who challenge me to be better. When I think about it that way, it doesn’t seem like such a tall order.

What does happiness mean to you?

The Mexican Fisherman and the Investment Banker (Author Unknown)

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, “only a little while.”

The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.

The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, and stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”

The American scoffed. “I have an MBA from Harvard, and can help you,” he said. “You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, and eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middle-man, you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening up your own cannery. You could control the product, processing, and distribution,” he said. “Of course, you would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles, and eventually to New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”

To which the American replied, “Oh, 15 to 20 years or so.”

“But what then?” asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time was right, you would announce an IPO, and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions!”

“Millions – then what?”

The American said, “Then you could retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”