We all need our drugs and fixes so to speak. For some, it is shopping, watching tv, complaining about their spouses, stuffing their face with crap food or drinking. For some their fix is watching their stash grow, fixing their own car, learning something new, exercising etc.
So it is all about choices. When you make the out of ordinary choice, no matter how good for you, most won't understand or make the connection.
I had people tell me my car was an embarrassment, an old rust bucket standard honda with 200,000 + miles on it. I wore old shoes into the office and had a few work pairs under my desk. I bought my lunch everyday. I never participated in the secret Santa, candle parties or ridiculously overpriced fundraisers. When my kids were in college I was even cheaper because I wanted them to be as close as debt free as we could manage when they graduated. Today my kids, in their thirties enjoy reporting how they are progressing towards Fi themselves, and how thankful they are to us for giving them a solid base to build on.
I was definitely the outsider, yet few made the connection when I retired at age 52. They honestly said things like I must have won the lottery as we lived in a nice house, had planned travel etc.
People see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear. Be thankful you have seen the light and can avoid the toxicity of debt, worthless material accumulation and mindless activities. Make your life worthwhile and meaningful and you won't be sorry.