> I push past my dissatisfaction because the better jobs don’t pay. A 'better job' is not necessarily a high-paying job. Many people opt for lower commute time

> I push past my dissatisfaction because the better jobs don’t pay. A 'better job' is not necessarily a high-paying job. Many people opt for lower commute time yet choose a lesser paying job, if it means they don't spend 1-2 hours commuting. Also if you're lucky, you live where you work, and have plenty of amenities available (Gym, Shopping Center etc). Also you could need a side-project / hobby project you work on that is either related to tech or not related (wood working etc). Many people scratch their own itch on hobby projects even if they're not paid to do it (they just enjoy doing it).