Good question. I often wonder that myself. Currently I am a special education teacher, something I've been doing for 27 years now. And I'm so tired of doing it!!! I'm trying to motivate myself to make a big career change, seek new paths, and find something that is a more satisfying match. I teach in a wealthy Boston suburb, but don't live there. I couldn't afford it!
Of course one would think after 27 years this would be a match, but it's becoming less and less true. I think it's a safety net and a rut. I love the teaching part, but far too much of the job has turned into administrative kinds of things. Testing, meetings and paperwork. Not the reasons I went into teaching!
When it's not stressful that is.
I can dream can't I?
Sometimes inertia takes over and all good intentions go to hell in a handbasket.