Let's say you suddenly have enough money to last you the rest of your life. Not so much that you're filthy, filthy rich, but enough that it's obvious you can quit the rat race if you so choose and never look back. What would you do?

This is different than an if-I-won-the-lottery question. It's not a what-would-you-buy-with-all-your-money question. It's a what-would-you-do-with-all-of-your-time question.

You've probably heard many times that people who retire sometimes miss working, especially those who had positions of authority, who got much of their identity from working. Other people retire and never look back.

So, looking at your life right now---if you could do anything you wanted and didn't have to worry about money, what would it be?

Would you still work at all? Would you travel? A little of both? Concentrate on some hobbies?

I've thought a lot about becoming financially independent, of keeping my eye on saving, investing and spending in ways that balance today's needs and wants with my desire to be in control of my destiny at a younger age than traditionally is thought of as retirement age, but the truth is that I don't know what I would do if I actually became financially independent.

Some things I've kicked around:

- I've always like music and would like to learn to play piano or guitar. If I got good enough, I might even be interested in playing in a band of some sort.

- I like to travel. I've got one of those 100 Places to See Before You Die books and I'd like to check off a few more than I've done.

- Would like to spend more time by the ocean, especially away from the chilly winters I currently don't enjoy living through. Would definitely become a snowbird in Florida or some other year-round warm destination.

- I would not work in any traditional job. Work is a means to an end for me. That doesn't mean I don't sometimes get fulfillment from things I've done in a job, but if I had had the choice, I wouldn't have been doing those things in the first place.

Truth is I don't have an overriding passion that I would pursue if given the chance. I prefer to dabble, doing this and that, going places, reading--basically doing whatever interests me, but not really much of anything that in the end will ensure that I have left a mark on the world when I am gone.

Is that wrong? Does a person with no particular set-in-stone goals (other than being financially free) deserve to be financially free? I don't know the answer to that question.

How about you? What would you do if you could do whatever you wanted?