Gosh, I can't believe it's been 1.5 years since I replied to this thread. Whoo, I've been SOOO busy.
FIRE has given me the opportunity to enroll in college to study jazz music, and I've now completed my third semester. Although the classes, homework and practice can be quite difficult and challenging, and I *do* sometimes have to wake up to an alarm clock and hustle to class, I am *so* much happier engrossed in the study of something I am passionate about. Also my skills and knowledge have advanced so much faster in full-time study than could have ever happened with a once-a-week private lesson (which was the only option I had when I was working).
I still maintain that I am ten thousand billion percent happier. Once in a while I think about "hmmm, maybe you should consider a job again," but then I remember bosses, and dumb rules, and customers, and deadlines, and phones, and schedules, and being told 'no' you can't have that day off, and realize that--nope--I don't ever want to do that sh*t again.
Yep. Things are better on this side of the "desk."
-The Pigeon. Life's better when *you* drive the bus.