Life and Jobs

So, before I moved to CA, I had moved up in my career pretty quickly. After doing my job as a technical writer for only 1 year, I moved to Supervisor. I probably would have been on the fast track to management and more in the next 5 or so years, except, well, I hated Indiana. And, at the time, I thought I was willing to do just about anything to get the heck out of there...

So, I took a technical writing job (back to individual contributor) out here. I wasn't really sure it was the right decision, but I was going to get paid almost double what I made in Indiana and at the very least it got me out here. I could choose to do something else later if I wanted.

Now I'm here and I've gotten a promotion and a few raises. Nothing to complain about. I definitely feel, now, that this was a good decision. However, I always have this feeling in the back of my mind that I should be doing something different. Something better. Something I enjoy more, maybe?

Then I think, does it really matter that much? Everyone I talk to doesn't LOVE their job. Not that they hate them either. But, in the end, a job is a job. I can't help but think that if I was paid to do the things I love I'd start disliking them a little more.

So, what to do then? I look around me and see the plethora of people from other cultures who work in this Engineering organization--men and women, introvert and extrovert. Other cultures are taught a different kind of fulfillment. One of family and achievement, not of happiness and endless pursuit of personal fulfillment. Why is this a lesson that's so hard for Americans to learn? I have an excellent job that pays well that I like well enough in an industry and career that many people work very, very hard to get into. So, why is it so hard to get on board with what I already have?

Anyone else ever feel this way?