I was searching this thread for a reference to FIRE, I see interesting parallels too.
You can take a serial (work your butt off now, enjoy life later) or parallel (OP's wish) approach to work/life, but it also does not need to be completely binary. If you can find a position that is sufficiently rewarding but not too stressful, and that allows you to save up enough that you can (semi) retire at, say, 50, that may be a great middle ground.
You can take a serial (work your butt off now, enjoy life later) or parallel (OP's wish) approach to work/life, but it also does not need to be completely binary. If you can find a position that is sufficiently rewarding but not too stressful, and that allows you to save up enough that you can (semi) retire at, say, 50, that may be a great middle ground.