I saw @Derek Ross share a vibe‑coded app that estimates how much Bitcoin you’d need to retire using “Michael Saylor’s 24 model.” I don’t know much about the rule, but it reminded me of a concept I’ve had bouncing around my head: retirement has two “space speeds.”

Quick physics refresher, because the analogy helps:

• First cosmic speed: the minimum speed to get into Earth orbit, so you’re in space, but still under Earth’s gravity.
• Second cosmic speed: fast enough to break free of Earth’s gravity entirely.

Money feels the same.

First speed (orbit): You save enough to live the life you want by gradually spending down your assets. In the perfect theoretical version, you time it so your last dollar gets spent on your last day. You leave little behind—maybe a few smelly clothes and some pictures—and you got the comfort you wanted while you were here. You were “in space,” but always circling the same planet.

Second speed (real escape): You accumulate enough assets that you can live off what they earn. The income covers your costs, inflation, and whatever taxes apply, so the base doesn’t shrink in real terms. You maintain your lifestyle without touching the principal. That’s how you create generational wealth: your kids, their kids, and so on can keep living at a similar level without liquidating the base.

For me, that second speed should be the goal. “Consume and then die” isn’t appealing. I believe that I have responsibilities to the next generations (or at least the immediate one), and providing for them matters.

Of course, unlike physics, you can’t calculate this precisely. It’s subjective and local:

• Lifestyle choices differ wildly.
• Norway isn’t Nicaragua.
• Taxes and inheritance rules can erode generational wealth.
• Even the cost of maintaining assets varies.

Think of it like the Drake equation in astronomy: a back‑of‑the‑envelope way to multiply a bunch of uncertain factors into one estimate. Your inputs will be different from mine, so your “speed” will be different, too.

So when someone says, “I can retire,” I find myself wondering: are you planning to consume down to zero, or have you reached escape velocity where life runs on the yield and the base stays intact? And me? I’m still moving at a snail’s pace, far from either speed, but if I’m picking a target, I want that second space speed. Simpler life, durable base, and a shot at leaving something real behind.