I think this is a generational thing. I'm 21 and I've been employed constantly since I was 14 as well (if you stretch your definition of 'employed' to include 'Wordpress monkey and high school helpdesk attendant), and the advantage of that is if I were suddenly fired or laid off, I don't have to live in paralyzing fear since I already have around half a year's worth of living expenses saved up. That doesn't mean I'd spend six months goofing around -- I'm a workaholic and I derive an unhealthy amount of value from my day-to-day work -- but I wouldn't be crushed or anything.