<human>: A decade of high stress plus a really truly awful 2008 has motivated me to look into [downshifting] / simple living.

Anyway I'm about 16 months in and thinking I did it wrong because all that stress from the 6-figure job and city living has been replaced with other stress...

So has anyone on Reddit ever done this? Successfully? I'd like to reboot my life and start over. Questions I have that I never figured out are:

- Where is a decent place to live with a low cost of living?
- How do I explain to a future employer that "yes, I would rather make $12/hr than sit in cubicle world for 6 figures"
- I would like to see a therapist, but I'm very broke at the moment!

Thanks Reddit - if you've done this before or know someone who has I'd appreciate some sage guidance.

Provide a brief overview of the text.
<bot>: I hit the "eject" button on my career and need someplace to find a way to get my head straight.