To be charitable to those stuck at w*rk, let's face it. It is probably jealously. Or disappointment with themselves that they did not plan and sacrifice to achieve what you have. So they make up stories to make themselves feel better about being stuck at w*ork, like not wanting to be bored, or wanting to "contribute" by working at megacorp or megagovernment. And they buy another lottery ticket so they can dream about getting what you've got. (I just turned 50, and am telling the boss on Friday that I'm gone in 26 weeks.)
Looking around at other people and what they do with money, it just astonishes me, so I guess this is a fairly unusual group. BIL's sister retired a few months ago from a federal job with a six-figure pension, I figure she's on easy street, right, because I sure would be. Nope, she complains that she has a $6,000 annual shortfall to make all her payments, so what does she do? Takes out a loan.
I just can't relate to that.