[ChrisMarshallNY]

Might be more to that story. Remember that Japan is a very socialized country, so CoL expenses are not what they are in the US.

I have a friend that basically shops as part of her job. She has been power-shopping, mostly in Europe (dream job, I suppose), for decades.

She tells me that she runs into the same sales associates, year after year, and has watched them “grow up” over years.

So it seems to be possible, at least in Europe, for people to make lifelong careers in the service industry.

[pertymcpert]

Most retail workers in Europe don't make a career out of it by choice. I can tell you that for damn certain.

[ChrisMarshallNY]

That actually goes for most jobs.

HN folks are privileged. We have careers that interest us, engage us, and reward us.

That's not the norm, in this world. I'm grateful for my career. I know quite a few folks that make excellent money, doing jobs they hate. In my mind, that's kind of a nightmare.

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