Welcome to the club, sorry to see you here. What especially resonated was the part about "there is a certain degree of comfort outside of my work life" that makes changes in work life very difficult to consider.

One advantage to not driving is, I assume, you don't have a car. My car is a big reason I can't become "gainfully unemployed." The ability to buy new books, magazines, CDs, and what not pretty much whenever I like enters into it, too.

Sorry, I should probably whine about myself in my own journal. :-) I just wanted to let you know that I think I understand how you feel, if that's any comfort.

-Charlie