From a somewhat outside perspective, I used to think that being a tenured professor at one of a relative handful of top institutions would be a pretty nice gig

From a somewhat outside perspective, I used to think that being a tenured professor at one of a relative handful of top institutions would be a pretty nice gig overall with at least decent pay and benefits. Over time, I came to think I probably wouldn't have liked it a lot even given that very optimistic hypothetical situation.