29F, ~€120k net worth, unemployed, no clue what to do with my life or my money - looking for honest input
Background: I'm 29, based in Europe, no student debt, currently living with supportive parents so my fixed costs are basically zero (gym + phone). I quit a PhD in physics in 2025 without finishing. Got into my dream company after years of trying, was laid off after 2 months due to a bad fit. Currently recovering from surgery.
Financially: €116k net worth. €71k of that is sitting in cash/HYSA at around 3%. The rest is in other assets (ETFs)
The honest part: I hate desk work. Not only in a burnout way... I've always been this way. Software dev, data analysis, consulting, research... none of it appeals to me. Making money as a goal doesn't motivate me. I recently started doing content creation but I'm so lost myself that I don't even know what to make content about, so I'm not expecting income from that anytime soon.
What I actually want: to work as little as possible and make a decent living. €3k/month net would genuinely feel like a dream. I know that sounds low-ambition but I'd rather be honest about it. I'm open to moving to a lower cost-of-living country eventually but right now health and family mean I'm staying put. Other problem is my boyfriend, that is actualy very career driven but only full remotely, so we match on wanting to live in a simple place.
Now the actual questions:
With €71k in cash and essentially zero expenses right now, should I just dump most of it into a world ETF (VWCE or similar) and let it sit while I figure the rest out? Or is holding cash while I think about bootstrapping a business the smarter play... even if I have zero business ideas right now?
For the life direction side: has anyone here designed a life around genuinely low-effort income that isn't passive income fantasy stuff? I'm not looking for dropshipping schemes. I'm thinking more like: seasonal work, niche freelancing, something physical/hands-on, long-term rental income, anything that leaves most of my time free. Would love to hear what actually worked for people.
Not looking to be talked into a career. Just want to make the most sensible moves with what I have while I figure out what kind of life I actually want to build.