it's cool man, i forgive you for givin me grief about it. it's water under the bridge.
funny though, i was thinking about this thread a few days ago on my long run. the high money job would allow me to take my wife on vacation once or twice a year--to nice exotic places. but realistically, that would be the only time we would spend with each other. instead, we'll be able to spend evenings and weekends together and with friends. not a glamorous life, but it's our choice.
i'm also coaching because it's my passion. it doesn't feel like work (sure, there are some days that it does), but i love what i do, and i get real excited about it every day.
i know what you mean about people who live their lives around running. i have a few friends like that, and it's as if their entire life revolves around dropping 1 or 2 minutes from their marathon PR. they go to casinos 2-3x/ week to make money, and don't invest themselves with their families. that's something that i could not and would not do. i saw the writing on the wall: i had the talent and drive to come reasonably close to a USATF B standard, but i chose to work on a master's degree instead, and i graduated in may 07. i ran some great races, achieved new PR's on the track, roads and in XC (post collegiately) and honestly gave it a real shot, but at the end of the day, i had to invest in my future as a husband/ father, and not a road-whore.
as for knowing what i'm talking about, well, i guess that's just speculation. it just comes down to making a decision and doing what i can to follow through and be committed to it. oh yeah, one more comment regarding travel. my fiance's grandmother travels the world 2-3x/ year and lived in kenya for over 30 years. the past 4 years, my fiance has been to africa and europe and other places. in a few weeks, she is going to spain with her grandmother for about 10 days. she gets her travel fill (me, i don't really like traveling. i like california just fine).