Someone is paying to reply to this comment, why wouldn't I??? I am gong to read article now. - Cody Heitschmidt

Ok, I made kinda a smart ass comment and then I went and read the post. Thats a great post. I would do my job right now if they funded my retirement, my kids college fund and fed my family. If all that was taking care of... I would do my job for free. I truly feel like at 33 I have "Made it" and I am not even upper middle class. I am debt free own a house and pay my bills on time. So minus accomplishing the 3 things above (retire,college, food) I only do what I want/enjoy). - Cody Heitschmidt

It's not rocket science, but it's true :) - WorldofHiglet

Seriously folks I don't know Steve personally, but you should go read this post! - Cody Heitschmidt

People ask me why I don't sell vacation days. THAT is why. Also, I'm miffed that the government takes away half of that in taxes. They can't tax vacation time. So there! - Morton Fox

Good, thought-provoking article, esp. since I'm between jobs, I think it's time to sit down and figure out what I can live without. - Phil G

This is what I would like to focus on, but now that we have a mortgage, no way we can make big changes (losses) in income. Especially since that mortgage is badly upside down (house has lost a ton of value since we bought it because of the real estate burst). - Her Lindsay-ness

It's true - I used to be in a job where I made tons more money and it didn't bring me happiness. Moving back into technology and following my passion for user experience HAS made me happy though! - Sparky Crocker

It's the difference of waking up every morning dreading going to work and waking up every morning not able to wait until I get to the office. If you spend 1/3rd of your life at work you darn well better be excited about it! - Sparky Crocker

You do UX, Sparky? Who for? - Her Lindsay-ness

Lindsay - I'm a vendor Product Manager at Microsoft. I own requirements for a Volume Licensing application. I love being able to take something thought of as difficult and un-fun and make it easier for our users. - Sparky Crocker

Sparky: I love your attitude :) That's why I'm writing now and not doing what I did before! - WorldofHiglet

+100 Sparky!! Passion for life always wins over money - that is so essential for happiness!! - Susan Beebe

because daytime TV sucks - seriously? because I love what I do - William Harryman

I'm a support tech, because I have to support myself and my tech habit. - MiniMage, sheeple of FF

Responsibilities: daughter, ex-wife, self. Transportation. Housing. Food. Insurance. Entertainment (incl. Travel). Hobbies. Addictions. Perversions. Compulsions. - Morgan Haley

We all have to work some, because otherwise we'd be pre-civilization and would have to work 80 hour weeks gathering food just to survive. So working 40ish hours/week (or more, or less) is actually pretty nice. - Mike Reynolds

Mike - I think the point of the article is to make your passion what you do 40 (or more) hours a week. It doesn't seem like work then. - Sparky Crocker

Thanks Sparky. I like my job, so perhaps that's why I read it differently. - Mike Reynolds

Thanks guys, Sparks is right -- I am interested to see what type of time/money trades people are making. I really, really appreciate all the kind words. - Steve Spalding