From my perspective I have either been a small business owner or partner for most of my career. I do most of my own work myself but I do hire part time workers for large jobs. Yeah, I look to pay them a fair market rate but not much more than that. I'm not wealthy but I'm comfortable and happy.

During the Covid lockdown I felt like I was accomplishing nothing. I was bored and felt useless. It convinced me that I want to continue to work at least part time as long as I have a couple marbles rolling around in head. Being 66, I pick my jobs now and don't just take everything I can anymore. It's satisfying to me. I believe in large part that's because I make so many customers happy it gives me a sense that I am doing something good for the world. Nothing earth shaking but improving people's lives every day in marginal ways, and making a living while doing it.

I will agree that working for someone else vs yourself is a different vibe. I've done that too and it's not hard to get disillusioned with it. Being someone's employee is not a ticket to the top of Maslow's hierarchy. Still, there's quite a bit of scientific data related to one's employment and sense of self worth. Anecdotally, my wife's 42 year old son moved in with us almost three years ago because he got massively in debt with his credit cards (again - my wife bailed him out a few times in the past). Then he was laid off his job after six months and has been unemployed for over two years. It's obvious what a toll being without a job has taken on his self esteem. From my perspective, I'm tired of supporting the useless fuck.

I'm glad you have a happy and thriving retirement, my friend. But I also know from many conversations we've had that your strong political opinions have jilted your views about employer/employee relationships in a very negative way. You're not entirely wrong, just not entirely right either.