https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGJSI48gkFc

Now, I'm not endorsing this viewpoint---nor am I american---I'm just pointing out that there is a subset of Americans to whom this is a legitimate viewpoint (and that group is large enough that this is a legitimately viable advertisement appealing to their values and life choices).

And despite some folks' collective horror at this commercial (it was mildly---and intentionally, I would guess--- controversial), this is how most of my friend group (and me) live our lives. Sure we would never drive a Cadillac, but we mostly just spend all our time working. I can't think of a single friend who didn't blink at upending their entire life and moving to a new city just for an incremental career move. And it's super strange to my few European friends who value taking August off. Off.

I can sympathize with people who want that level of comfort and vacation. But then I notice my own decisions: I could easily have studied and lived in Europe (and I still could), and yet I have chosen not to. Mostly because of work.