That resonates. I spent ages 21 to 34 having a good time. Maybe too good of a time, but far away from tech. The last 6 years have been great for my career and I’m lucky to have caught fire with something I built and sold and caught up.

But following that, I’m over here crunching retirement numbers every week, and making so many decisions based on my desired retirement date. I’ve learned too much about it, but it is nice to not just scoff at anyone who invests in stocks as being a conservative stiff.

But as much as saving here and there may mean I can retire while still healthy - the map is not the territory. Maybe buying a house that fits a child and is near parks and trails will mean I’m more mentally fit. Most things are less inseparable than they appear on a spreadsheet.

One of the reasons I’ve been so conservative in where I live and how I spend lately is that my parents have got old. That’s a whole other topic, but maybe this is why having a child has so far alleviated my depression.