And we are still far less balanced on the work vs. play scale than much of the world. Europe and most of the Spanish speaking countries seem to have it fairly well figured out. Siesta's and lots of vacation time!

Good post Twitch. Very interesting to follow your progression and shifting system of values and/or pursuits so to speak. Thanks for the insight and I'll be hoping a sweet opportunity comes along soon. It seems we have more than a few things in common.

I firmly believe that good things do happen to good people. That having been said, most of the good people I know choose to put lifestyle and the pursuit of happiness ahead of and in a different category than money. As such, low paying jobs in a field, location, or pay grade that is far from their first choice seems to be the norm rather than an exception.

Perhaps a better question is, "Do you like your life?" If the answer is no, why not, and what can you do about it. It is easy to try and find solutions in the things you don't have and/or think that you want. Money, women, time, possessions, etc. In my experience, getting what it is you want, more often than not, either leads to the wanting of something else, or the creation of new problems that quickly replace the old, leaving you more or less in the same cycle.

I can honestly say I am pretty content in my current situation. I would like to say that I have landed where I am at, doing what I am doing, as a result of clear foresight, hard work, and by strictly adhering to a perfect plan that affords me an ideal balance between work, play, time off and income enough to accomplish my financial goals. Truth be told, I was lucky as hell and wonder every day how the F I managed to catch a few breaks, dodge a few bullets, and wind up in a decent spot doing things that I love next to people I respect and enjoy being around.

In all reality, as someone mentioned above, my answer really depends on the day and the hour that you ask though. Today was a good day. Tomorrow? Who knows.

Pretty early on in my budding "professional progression" I had to make a call between making money and being close to the things that I value outside of work. I chose the latter, and in doing so a minimum wage at a mountain guide service and the 9 best years of my life. Incredibly, that turned into a real job, led to another, and eventually dropped me where I am at. Full time mountaineering ranger, part time fishing guide who lives for time on the river with friends and loved ones.

For me, on the most simple level I can boil things down to, happiness is being close to the things and people that I love. Discontentment, if that is a word, is separation from those things.

Your answer is likely very different than mine, but whatever it is, I hope you find it.