The second you have dependents, the equation changes. Now you're optimizing not just for your remaining years of life, but for your children and possibly their children. Which, in most cases, means living in higher cost of living areas to get them in better schools and access to wealthier networks. Also, any adverse health events can sink your whole family, so you need to keep on the treadmill until you have sufficient passive income to keep any health issues from causing financial insecurity.

I have noticed that my friends and family that grew up in higher cost of living, higher income areas and went into the standard higher paying careers (doctor/lawyer/finance/engineering) are more financially secure than those who weren't as fortunate or focused on the rat race. At what mental/other cost though, I can't say.

Edit: The most financially secure are those who invested in commercial real estate and development.