Above experiences shared are real enough scenarios. I personally never thought of stupid things like that when I was young, but do have some friends who chose low paying jobs because they like what they are doing and claim “there is more to life than money”

Some got out after a few years due to monetary pressure while a few still hanging on. But one thing I notice is that they are actually adult dependents. Although they claim to give token sum to parents monthly, their parents have been providing so much indirect help to support their lifestyle that realistically they would have been dead if their parents pull out life support.

These people often take parent support like room & board, food, use of car, free childcare, house down payment, for granted and proudly claim to me how they transcend beyond money and one got the cheek to say pity me for my rat race life. I challenge he try to live for 6 months without any parent support then come back & tell me how it goes. Last I heard he still on paternal welfare.