Shopping in the Metaphorical Supermarket

The world, or one's life, could be thought of, metaphorically, as a supermarket. Or maybe even a hypermarket (I think those are the ones with the huge Wal-Mart / Target etc attached??). The point is, it's got all the raw ingredients and prepared products imaginable for you to select and combine and ultimately (hopefully) create some sort of culinary delight.

However, the mere existence of the hypothetical supermarket is not enough to guarantee a delectable culinary outcome. There are many ways in which one could misjudge or be tempted and led astray. For example:

1) You could go for the prepackaged stuff. The quick and easy. Think frozen tatertots. Jello. Ramen (especially the super-spicy kind - YUM). Carnation breakfast shake powder packs. These items are typically calorie-dense but nutrient-empty.

2) You could get overly idealistic, i.e., "From now on, I'm going to...[be a vegetarian / only eat raw foods / renounce sugar]." Soon after leaving the store (and well before these purchased items are prepared for consumption), the resolve to be [a vegetarian / a RAW foodie / non-diabetic] begins to wilt. Result: costly food bill + unused/spoiled purchases + stuck habit (of my being too lazy to cook) = utter demoralization + gobbling down a pint of Ben & Jerry's in one sitting.

3) You could go for the prepackaged stuff, under the guise of going for the idealistic stuff. For example, frozen Kashi pizzas, frozen ORGANIC macaroni dinners, private-label canned organic chicken chili, frozen shroom-burger patties, Grape Nuts cereal (or the aptly-named private-label Von's version: Nutty Nuggets). You probably still end up spending a small(er) fortune, but you get stuff that 1) you'll actually be able to prepare yourself, 2) is less likely to spoil before you get around to preparing it, and 3) is decently nutritious for you.

I would say I'm at #3 right now, with hopes of effectively shifting to #2 once I have more time to devote to cooking, etc.

There are some obvious parallels between the metaphorical supermarket, life choices, and long-term results/contentment. That's me, stating the obvious as usual. However, it has particular resonance right now, because, I admit it:

I'm wavering.

That is, I'm wavering between the career-versions of options #1-3 above.

1) Prepackaged stuff: continuing with current occupation & getting an MBA. job security. predictable career trajectory. downside-protected. embracing the decision to permanently sell-out.

2) Idealistic stuff: full liberation from "The Man", see the world, relinquish my attachment to material possessions (and reliable income), practice more stringent fiscal austerity than ever previously imagined.

3) Compromising combination: several permutations are possible - still evaluating which ones are most probable and most desired.

As I continue to plow through studying for WINKIE (Was Important, Now Kinda Irrelevant Exam), these are the thoughts and questions that continue to float around in my psyche. Will keep y'all up to date on the progress of this decision-making process.