A very good point. Also true,some folks may want to make less and have a bunch of things "pre-digested" for them. Others may want more and be able to purchase

A very good point. Also true,some folks may want to make less and have a bunch of things "pre-digested" for them. Others may want more and be able to purchase goods and services (like college educations) as they choose. There is no right or wrong here. This is a "do you like ice cream" question. Additionally, simply because you're making more and living in the U.S. doesn't mean you can't have a laid back lifestyle. Or if you're making less in living in France you're as free as you want to work and play as hard as you want. These broad generalizations don't mean much. Having said all of that, in my own career when I was young I chased the money. Not to get rich: I simply found that people who pay a lot of money for stuff are usually doing something very interesting. There's a lot more stuff going on in SV than in Lyon. This was my choice. Others make different ones.