re: A burr under my saddle.
Dude, you have a cool job.
Loads of people dream of leaving the rat race, to do exactly the kind of work you do.
Why? Because your type of work is genuinely rewarding, in a very soulful sense, and the work they do?
Well, you've seen 'Office Space'.
If your high school acquaintance really is a uber marketing honcho, I guarantee you he burns a new ulcer every Sunday night, worrying over Monday mornings staff meeting.
He probably left in a hurry to fill his prescription for Zoloft, Ambien, and Valium.
I would LOVE to work on boats.