Definitely the money. I can think of several career paths that likely would likely have made me happier but I didn't pursue them because I was able to do computer programming and why throw that potential money away.

That's actually quite sad.

But you said it yourself: "several career paths would likely have made me happier".

What's the point in living if not to be happy? Money is just a means to avoid unhappiness. It's been proven time and time again that after a decent income money does not increase happiness.

I've yet to find the point where more money doesn't make me happier. Money buys a lot of things that make you happy. Money is also more much more capable of making one's family happy than a job I like more than my current one is. It's not like I hate my job. I just like it less than the blue collar stuff I did before I got my degree. I don't have a trust fund. I have to make my own living and I optimized for doing that. Waxing poetic about "occupational fulfillment" is something the upper classes do after they've been upper class long enough to forget how well they have it. I don't care what other people think. Money is making me happy. My property is covered in classic cars in various states of disrepair, my fridge always has beer in it. My life is quite comfortable thanks to money. The ease with which money can be converted into things that bring me joy is unparalleled. Not taking all that for granted probably helps a lot.

Yeah, software development's not a little more money than the other things I'd like to do, it's a lot, and also easier, and also less demanding of my time than some of them, and I can find a job almost anywhere (remote, even!) with no trouble.

I'm (reasonably) good at it. I don't like it much. But be slightly good and have a little experience in programming and if you're not careful pretty soon it's way better than most other options you've got, by every measure except "enjoy and am proud of what I do".

> I don't have a trust fund. I have to make my own living and I optimized for doing that. Waxing poetic about "occupational fulfillment" is something the upper classes do after they've been upper class long enough to forget how well they have it.

I also do not have a trust fund, actually the contrary, I grew up as poor as you can possibly be in the UK. Mother didn't work, had various vices including drinking and smoking which did not jive with our financial situation (living on benefits).

Due to that my mother put more worth into immaterial things, and that rubbed off on me I think.

Additionally; I've only been employed in a self-sustaining fashion for 8 years now. Perhaps I've lost what it feels like to be destitute- but I don't think I'd trade happiness for money because outside of not worrying about bills and food money doesn't actually buy me anything. Just a little more ease of mind.

The lower you start the lower the "more money will not improve my life anymore" number is. I have no desire to live in a nice neighborhood, drive new cars and drink fancy beer so the threshold where money stops improving my life is probably a couple tens of thousands of dollars per year lower than if I wanted those things but I still aspire to own vacation house so that pushes the number higher.

I think there's also some pretty big cultural differences between the US and western Europe when it comes to decisions to pursue money or not.

I don't disagree. But I have no way of knowing.

Thanks for putting it this way. I have been struggling to articulate my position on the topic in such a succinct manner, but your post has set it straight for me. Not into classic cars or yearning for blue collar work myself, but the general sentiment is deeply relatable.