[RugnirViking]

a friend of mine quit his(educated and quite cerebral) career around 50, bought a van, and became a landscape gardener for 3 or 4 years. He was way happier. Of course, he had less money, but he didn't need it. After that he started doing less gardening and started organizing music events (he'd been going to loads of concerts and hanging out with band managers anyways). He's still starting out with that but has hosted a few local ones himself and worked on the team for some bigger ones

It can absolutely work. I can't say its always easy, but it will make you a much more interesting person for sure.