I do feel lucky. I think it gets easier with age. I've had jobs I absolutely hated and stuck them for years. I remember once driving to work and there had been an accident so there was a jam. My immediate thought was "Oh s**t, a jam...ah well, better than being in that f*ing factory". That's when it's time to get out. It changed for me when I had the accident. Life changing injuries and 18 months out of work with time to think. A "permanent" job turned out to be nothing of the kind when they dropped me like a hot brick as soon as the extent of my injuries became clear. Some "temporary" work turned into the career change I have now been following for 8 years and plan to continue until I retire. That's probably another 8 years, maybe more or less, depends on how I feel. I don't want to stop working yet, having experienced a long break I worked out that work has a function other than simply providing money. It's about making a contribution, having a purpose, and part of your identity. I'd still do something resembling work if I had a lottery win. OK, I might not be in a factory somewhere dull, but I'd do something. Water supplies in Africa, food production and distribution systems in the 3rd World, and so on.
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