I've always gotten the unshakeable sense that in the end, it all evens out. The guy with a six-figure salary in a nice neighborhood must deal with the boss -- but he gets a comfy life. The broke guy in an isolated village may be poor -- but his pace of life is relaxing, he fishes a lot, is never in a rush, etc. Basically add up any configuration of lifestyle stresses and benefits, total it up, and examine its inverse -- and the net amount of benefit and stress will wind up being the same in the end. There's not really any "getting ahead" so much as there is "choosing whatever schema of problems and enjoyments you'd most enjoy." Ever since this dawned on me it's really made life seem a little more playful. It's opened up the playing field mentally. Every choice I could make is just another, new configuration of stress and rewards, ultimately not better or worse than my own -- just different.