This is so true, and people don't get it even when it's explained to them. I'm not speaking from experience (yet), but close enough. Also, hope this doesn't come off as preachy.

I've moved around a lot and almost made a career change (even went so far as to get a degree in that field). People don't tend to understand my life. I want a certain lifestyle, and I had been working like hell to get it. I want to travel and see the world, not be stuck in this cycle OP is upset about. And to be fair, my life hasn't been quite what I want it to be yet, but it hasn't been terrible either - I've been happy with it, but it's not ideal.

Well, I found my way out. I applied for a job in Antarctica, and I fucking got it - surprisingly quickly, too, I'm in disbelief.

The perks to this lifestyle are insane. Work in a crazy environment for, in my case, about a half a year. Bank pretty much everything I make (everything else is paid for, aside from booze), and all the travel there and back is paid for as well. On top of that, it's a job I enjoy, working it with people who want to be there.

And when it's over? I will have banked enough to not have to work until I go back down unless I want to (which I would, but I'd get some traveling in). Hell, some people travel for the entire 6 months or so before they head back down again. Some work other contract jobs in some other location.

Now to the part where people don't get it - they bitch about their jobs and how they hate their lifestyle. They wish they had time to do what they wanted to do - they don't want to deal with traffic and bills, and whatever else. Now I'm not telling them to do what I'm doing, but they think I'm crazy for wanting to do this. I know Antarctica is extreme and may not be up their alley, but can't people at least appreciate that I'm putting myself in a position where I may not have to deal with all that bullshit I don't want to deal with anymore? I'm actually doing something about it, this should be a good thing!

Sorry for the venting!