[davidscolgan]

Sure, but my ultimate goal is to escape the rat race, and if I have to spend my whole life stressed to get there that sounds like just a different extreme that is unappealing.

I guess what I'm more saying is, the default seems to be stressed out about money, and in order to avoid that you need leverage of some kind. One option is to work a ton, another is to take a high remote rate in a low cost of living area. It allowed me to work 20 hours a week right out of college instead of waiting until I retired. I also freely acknowledge that this is harder to do with a family.