For another data point, I'm 31, have a BS and BA, married, two kids, and have been at my current employer for 7 years, although my job has shifted gears every f

For another data point, I'm 31, have a BS and BA, married, two kids, and have been at my current employer for 7 years, although my job has shifted gears every few years (programming > team lead > executive). Out of college I thought I wanted to go the Amazon/Google route, but coupling placed geographic limitations on the job search. I'm now glad because I would have gotten sucked into the machine of the Valley and burned out coding. I always thought I'd want a Masters, but after a few years in industry I fail to see the value for my particular career goals - experience + salary seems to trump time away from industry + added debt in my mental calculus. Goal now is to find good work-life balance to focus on my kids while ensuring that I'm growing and challenging myself professionally. Perhaps most interesting part that I'm seeing from my stage of life is that my wife and I seem to be way ahead of the curve. Parents of our children's friend (aka your new social circle once you have children) are 5 to 10 years older than us. Our college friends are just now getting married and/or having kids, where I now have a 6 and 3 year old. I've checked off the list of college, marriage, house, kids, career and although I love my situation, it's odd that society has run out of "goals." There's no gold star you get once you check them all of - just a day-to-day routine. I'm not suggesting that you should pursue these things, but if you don't have them all yet and are striving for them, know that it's the journey, not the destination, that counts here.