@TrainForPain - Started a reply over your way, but it got long and I didn’t want to clog up your log, so I moved it here.
Not at all, my man—I haven’t said too much about it, really. Mostly I just whine in my log from time to time. You really haven’t missed anything!
In any case, I only meant “rough” w.r.t. work/life balance (and mostly training/nutrition in the “life” part of that balance). It’s why your “I’ve earned my way into Y” resonated with me: I’ve earned my way into the work/life balance issues—and in some sense, that’s been my goal all along.
My awareness of the imbalance has become more acute as my daughter starts high school in the fall, which itself starts the 4-year clock. As former university profs, both Mrs. SvenG and I are very aware of just how little time 4 years actually is…
But on the whole, we’re doing well: I’m working the work, we’re enjoying the added benefits it has afforded, my wife and kids are thriving, I’m still getting time under the bar, and my daughter’s launch into the high school years is both appropriate and exciting!
Sorry I wrote a book. But I appreciate you asking!