This is largely a choice—especially for the HN crowd, who typically earn above average salaries. If you choose to inflate your lifestyle to match your income, y

This is largely a choice—especially for the HN crowd, who typically earn above average salaries. If you choose to inflate your lifestyle to match your income, you're right—your work will be the majority of your [life's] work. If you choose to not do this, you can have a relatively brief career, and spend most of your life doing work you care about, regardless of the financials associated with it.