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0 pointsepalmer9y ago0 comments

It was both. With bonuses and options + salary I took about a 50% pay cut. My hours went from an average of maybe 70 / week to 40/week. My kids, now grown, thought I was a grump. Now they enjoy me being around. Same for my wife. Mostly importantly I was having health issues that less hours and less stress allowed me to get under control.

As I said, I have never looked back. I don't miss the money because I don't miss the stress.

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branchless9y ago· 1 in thread

It's called compensation for a reason. Sounds like you were compensated for missing out on your family and for trading years of healthy life. Not so tempting when phrased like this, but we often only realise after it becomes "normal".

Also for many there is not much choice. Sounds like you had a top 5% job. Could you exist well without the situation your former life gave you, such as owning your own home and not paying rent. Or would you be forced back into a bad family life to provide for that family?

EDIT: I'm having to reply here as I've hit the fake HN "you're submitting too fast" after doing 2 or 3 posts. The truculent censorship on this site when one hits specific topics sucks.

epalmer: Ok, good for you, and congratulations in finding your equilibrium!

epalmerOP9y ago

I would have been fine. I've owned two small businesses that paid well at the time. I worked a lot of hours but I had fun with those companies.

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