Surely this is a false dichotomy no? The alternative to some "CEO of some internet company" isn't "party away your youth." Perhaps you are creative and really want to be involved in creating movies, music. Some people enjoy hardcore technical work and don't wish to "elevate" to the point of CEO and want to do research.

>wishing you hadn't partied away your youth and instead actually tried to do something meaningful or productive.

So Im 27 and Ive been spending almost every moment outside of work, programming.

At least 1 night of the week, me and the wife go to a party, and our lifestyle usually forces us out of the house 1-2 other times during the weekend.

Ive considered this, I could spend every other moment of my week playing video games or going to party.

I kinda am bored of most video games until I get really into it. But the same can be said about programming.

I enjoy parties, but its usually based on the people rather than the drugs. That said, the people are often miss and the drugs I can do while I program.

Here is my current outlook: Programming is always interesting and it is often fun. Parties are rarely interesting and is often fun. My wife is interesting and fun. Bacon is fun. Diet Caffeine free Coke is fun.

My conclusion, enjoy what you enjoy, enjoy being productive, enjoy the physical pleasures. I find video games and netflix an inferior method.