Very interesting. I found that once I latched onto a decent paying job, ($50-$60k/yr.), my desire for more faded. I have my little house, nice car, kickass stereo, I'm certainly not going hungry, and I'm able to save for retirement. I guess you could call that "happy". But, it amazes me the people who can't understand that. "There's so much more!; Start your own business, make your fortune, go back to school, you're only 45 you could still make your millions!" Why can't they understand that I don't NEED all of that and that I see the pursuit of it as an unnecessary burden?
I once knew a man who was highly educated and had reached a top managerial position. He was a Plant Manager at his old job, but came to work with us as a machinist, which was what he started out as. I asked why he would take such a big step down. He said, "David, at that level you are married to your job. People calling you day and night, bothering you while you are on vacation, expecting you and your family to show up at functions, your life is no longer your own. Now, I just come in, work off whatever jobs they have for me, and go home. The pay is only a third what I used to make, but it's not bad. I love this." Of course he had already made lots of money. Having been to his home, I could see this. So.......
Just thought of this, 'cuz that was one example I've seen of someone "Stepping off" of the the hedonistic treadmill. And he was a happy man.
Dave
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"When the lie is so big and the fog so thick, the Republican trick can play out again....."-------Frank Zappa
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