I've been thinking a lot about money and happiness and the trade offs. My job is fine, if mind numbing and soul crushing. But it pays decent, makes few demands, and is about as secure as is possible.

I've been wondering if there's something I can do to make it more fulfilling. I've always thought of this as a paycheck. I get my fulfillment outside of work. Playing music, friends, etc.

But I spend by far the majority of my time here. At my desk. What I'm afraid of is getting caught up in the institutional, bureaucratic clusterfuck that can be a government job. I totally GET the time-biding, not my department attitude govt workers adopt. How can I push past that without going nuts?