Interesting.  By more expensive on average, would this mean pursuing personal interests, with the price being the opportunity cost of hours of labor that could have been exchanged for salary?<p>If so, this resonates with me.  I would add that there&#x27;s another component to this equation that I found personally valuable: challenge.  The challenges that I have faced in professional roles (some unpleasant) have often forced me to grow.  During long periods spent away from work, I often came to miss that.