I can understand how people might grow bitter in the situation where they put their "dream on hold" because their spouse was afraid of dealing with the unknown,

I can understand how people might grow bitter in the situation where they put their "dream on hold" because their spouse was afraid of dealing with the unknown, but if you already tried making a go of your dream and it failed and you are now in significant debt, putting your dream on hold and taking regular employment is the only sane option, so in OP's case, I don't see how this could manifest itself in bitterness towards his spouse unless he is insane.