I’ll take your word for it. I can think of many fulfilling things I’d rather be doing if I didn’t have to work everyday.
Have, say, a billion or more to spend? Start your own damn space program.
Actually, there are: coming from your imagination.
So I'm learning biology. When I'm done I won't bother with a postdoc but just start a research lab (or buy one).
It has helped me feel less empty, but the pandemic did hit me badly.
I thought I would pick up all those side projects which I abandoned due to lack of time but nope - it just didn't happen.
It's easier to do more stuff when you're already doing a lot. When you don't have to do anything, then it's hard to do any one thing (for me, at least).
For a while, then it would lose meaning.
I tried not working, it made me feel very empty inside. Human need goals. We aren't made to be idle for a long time.
I'll try to explain that better: "Fuck you" is when you refuse or sever a social connection. Don't do it too often. Because when you don't need any social connection, you have successfully create your gilded cage.
I've learned from my mistakes: Now I'm still retired but I work here and there, doing consulting or helping people, and learning biology.
It feels much better.
Say all these people say climbing Mount Everest is truly the most life changing thing they’ve ever done. Suddenly I start thinking maybe I should climb it too. I would love to hear stories to the contrary before I make the commitment.
And I don't blame you, the entire political and financial apparatus of capitalist society is designed to protect the status, wealth and privilege of people like yourself at the expense of everyone else grinding their lives away under the millstone. Obviously the best thing to be in a capitalist society is a capitalist, to whom capital and the benefits of capital are intended to flow, rather than one of the shmucks being fed to Moloch.
But as far as feeling sympathy for the plight of the wealthy - I'm not a communist or even a socialist but I'm playing The Internationale on the world's smallest violin right now.
Indeed. If there is something wealth didn't change, it's my selfishness - just as much before as after!
And this is exactly why I wrote this comment. People here are looking to get rich without asking enough questions like "why" or "what then?"
Make a few millions if that's what you want- why not? But it won't make you happy.
Stay away from drugs. Keep doing things that you find interesting and bring you joy. Associate with cool people. And don't say "f you" too much because social connections and a few obligations here and there are what make life fun.