Yeah. I know exactly how you feel. This reads like something that I could have written when I was your age. The difference, I suppose, is that I became a father when I was 19. So, I had to take a miserable job working the night shift in what was, for all intents and purposes, a fucking dungeon. I landed a front-line supervisor job. The pay was for shit and all it really helped me do was alienate myself from my co-workers. I pressed on. I was responsible for my kids. I was really trapped. No choices. No escape.

Well, my kids are grown and I am married to a different woman. The past 30 years have been a blur.

Like I said, I hated my job so, I quit. I got another and was glad to have it. For about 6 months. Then I hated that one too. All I did was work, or get ready for work. I earned enough money to keep me showing up on Monday. I kept quitting jobs, trying to find one that appealed to me.

Finally I became an over-the-road truck driver. The part of it that I enjoyed was that I was the only driver for a small company. My boss would give me expense money and send me off for a week or so. He didn't want to hear from me unless there was a problem. I worked under the table -- no taxes or regulation (by comparison).

After a few years that got old. I was trapped in the system. You have to work and be a productive citizen or you are an enemy of the state. Your "friends" and neighbors won't respect you if you don't maintain the status quo.

I wanted to be free. That is all -- just to be free. But, I didn't know what that meant. So, I thought about it. My wife understands my frustration. Together we formulated a plan.

I want to be a rubber tramp. A hobo with wheels. I began to make a plan to break away and drift about. I saved money and looked for bargains. I found an old van (1993) that I could work on and convert to rolling living quarters. I have been working on it -- getting it ready.

Soon (before the end of the year) I will take off and drive around the U.S. while we still have some freedom to do so. I will try to find short-term work from the road to give me gas money to move on and keep rolling.

I have no idea how this will work out. What I do know is, that for the first time in my adult life, I have hope and enthusiasm. I have a reason to drag my ass into work because it is now serving to aid me in my adventure. I am excited.

There may be something out there that appeals to you. And, maybe you won't have to wait until you are 50 before you figure out how to pursue it. You don't have to be a cog in the machine.

Good luck, my friend.