For the record, I was careful about what I wrote back in response to Adrian. He and I were good friends in college; since then he's been a little
too interested in my life.
I don't really see my kids or car as signs of a less adventurous life. My kids are remarkable and have changed how I look at the world. Meanwhile, my car is just a car. It doesn't define me, nor do I get excited about new models. It's simply a means of getting places.
What Adrian doesn't know--and I feel little need to point out to him--is that I've done some pretty interesting things over the years. I quit a job that paid well, and then lived on almost nothing ($6,000 in the first year). Doing so was tough, but as a result we've been able to do a lot of new things.
We wrote a book; built some interesting sites, communities, tools; met a bunch of neat people; rallied some folks around a cause; yadda yadda yadda. Next year, we're going to try our hand at making a film. I've never done that, but I really want to try it out.
We've continually pushed our company in new directions, and out of our comfort zones. Along the way, we've succeeded a bit, and failed a bit. For some people, this wouldn't be interesting. For me, though, it's a kick. We come up with an idea; we act on it. As a result, I mostly get to do what I want, when I want.
I don't think my life is amazing, but I do generally feel pretty good about it. Additionally, I'm not asking others to live the same was as me. I just think these are discussions worth having (particularly when folks tell me how much they hate their jobs).