People have made income vs lifestyle choices since time immemorial. I certainly have, and I’ve made different choices at different stages of life. Being an older parent with two adopted kids shoved my life course somewhat off the standard path. As long as people own their decisions, don’t fall into the entitlement mentality, and don’t resent the success of people who make other choices, there’s nothing wrong with marching to a different drummer.
Exactly right! Thanks for finding what she is doing upbeat rather than sour and miserable like so many commenting here.