My theory is that, with the exception of people whose situations never offerred them any opportunity to change the path their lives were taking, you generally live the life you prefer. If you never made doing something different a priority you were choosing to remain where you were. There may be reasons you can't even realize that entered into the decisions. I don't consider being contented and happy as settling for less. A persons life is his to live as he sees fit and I am not the one to judge or criticize. When I was younger it sometimes bothered me (and constantly bothered my mother)that I did not seem to be settling down into a secure career with one company with long term benefits. Now I see that I could not have stood that. Just my personal make-up and preferences.
