”If you are paid for those hours, it doesn't really matter if they are necessary or not.”

That is the ”I just work here” attitude.

”What do you need to enjoy life?”

Freedom from financial serfdom and time to pursue creative avenues. I suppose I can always move to the forests.

> That is the ”I just work here” attitude.

If you called the shots you wouldn't have to have unnecessary meetings; so yes, you do "just work here".

> freedom from financial serfdom and time to pursue creative avenues.

that doesn't really put a $-amount on it. What are your creative pursuits? How much does "freedom" require the cooperation of other people?

I don’t ”just work here”; I could and often do skip extra meetings, but sometimes it’s better to not want to be an asshole towards other people, you know?

You can’t put a dollar value directly on life, creativity or freedom; it is only possible through avoidance of death, parting with the fruits of creativity, and the various binds we put ourselves in.

I don't know what you mean by "be an asshole towards other people" - it sound like you can unofficially skip the occasional meeting, not call them off for being unproductive.

The dollar value of freedom is what it costs. If freedom is painting, the dollar value is painting supplies.

See? You’ve been hardwired to look at things through a lack of them.