Maybe Americans could stand to think critically about where they work. I work for a nonprofit here in the states. I make roughly half of what my friends who wo

Maybe Americans could stand to think critically about where they work. I work for a nonprofit here in the states. I make roughly half of what my friends who work for large companies make. On the other hand, I recently spent 2 weeks of vacation in Europe, followed by a professional conference at a large European university. (20 days total). I was not expected to work or check email while on vacation, and my supervisors viewed my job at the conference itself to be to present my research and network with professionals who can assist with our mission, not sit around in a hotel room catching up on email. As a bonus, I know my work helps people instead of lining the pockets of the upper classes. Frankly, it astounds me that so many people fixate so much on salary. (Hourly rate is a better heuristic. Talk informally to your friends about their salary and hours, and do the math yourself.)