Have you ever played live poker for 25+ hours a week for say 4 weeks in a row? I found it to be miserable.

Check out the Whole Year Inn aka the Hole You're In.

Not to continue the meta derail, but I think the evolutionary instincts just morph over time. The issue of trading high ceiling/low floor (hypotehtical poker superstar) possibilities for medium ceiling/high floor (upper middle class existence) has probably been around forever. I'm seeing it through a bunch of friends/acquaintences who are going through their midlife divorces/crises. I would say the substantial majority but not all wish they could go back to their boring but stable lives rather than have blown it by canoodling with an NFL cheerleader for a week and now being out half their life roll, half their kids, and all of their plan to change their colostomy bag when they are 70.

But, that said, pre-kids is the time for canoodling if you really want to try.

The game is still the game.

not a good idea. You probably don't have the love for the game that will sustain even 3+ years even if you make good money at poker. I've been there, I've seen all my friends who played poker as sole income. After the 3rd or 4th year you hate with every fiber of your being. The only guys who last, love the game, ie they can't go 4 days without playing, thinking of ways to improve at their current game/different game, they can't sleep wanting to play like it's the first day of school.

You should work your job but put in less hours for less pay. Play poker on the side even if it's 30 hours. The only long timers I've seen last are guys who have jobs/own their business and play. The only exception is some dude who is a golf addict that plays golf everyday then puts in time at the table ie you need something in your life beside poker.

If u leave ur job for say 12 months could you walk right back into it/a similar role with similar salary pretty easily?

If so then WTF is stopping u, if u havnt travelled much thru school or done anything with life other than study/work, just gone straight on thru the steps and now stuck in a job u absolutely hate then really why not! Time goes fast and although I'm younger than u, I know that b4 u know it u will be in ur 30s, married, kids on way, life commitments etc etc aka stuck in a ****ing rut.

If u can leave this job and have to come back to it, u don't have to say u were living the dream gambling in Vegas lol u can say u spent time travelling, seeing family away from home etc...how will they know?!

If u run and play good enough to pay for a humble yet fun life in Vegas then awesome but if not u can return back to the office grind knowing that at least u took that shot, u had the fun, the stories and memories no one can take from u...rather than the what if..?

That said, whats ur poker history? This is all assuming ur a winning cash game player and this first post is a gimmick account to hide ur idea... not a total noob saying woo ima be pokie pro!

Have u played in live casinos near to where u live? Been to Vegas before and played live? Feel u have a good enough edge to cover living expenses? Where u predominantly an online cash game player? Huge sample?

Do u know anyone in Vegas? Good friends are tough to find in Vegas, there are a lot of freaks and weirdos in town...u can start to get to know someone then find out they're a freak! Obv this happens anywhere but Vegas attracts all kinds!

Do u have any vices or an addictive personality? Pit games, sloots, coke, booze, partying...easy to fall into if addictive by nature.

Just my $0.02

Gl

Cliffs-if can leave job for say a year and walk right back into it why not take the shot, assuming u r a winning player, without degen tendencies and have thought it thru.

Keep the job. Move 45 minutes closer to work. Shortening your commute by 1.5 hours a day will do more to improve your attitude, life, relationships, etc that you can imagine.

Play poker on weekends and vactions.

Change Jobs before you suicide or take time off, ( unpaid if necessary) and try Vegas for a couple of months. If you do well no problems, if you burn through 100k, come back and get a job that matches your interests/hobbies. ( Im assuming you have some other than poker lol)

Good Luck - what ever you decide to do, just do SOMETHING different !!

Cammo

Really confused at the job requiring a masters degree that pays 6 figures, and all you have to do is paperwork...where do I apply?

I know there is no way to replicate it. And trying it for a few months may be the best advice but those first few months are bliss. You wake up mid afternoon no one to answer to, you drive and once the lights hit you, you're infused with energy. You can't wait to play, you've got a spry step, walking twice as fast to the poker tables. We should have a thread about guys who've done it 2+ years and see what their take is.

I think your best bet is to just hit Vegas for a long weekend every month for a few months and see if that snaps you out of your funk.

Sometimes people get caught up in the wow the last time I was in Vegas for 3 days it was wild, imagine if I was there for 365 days but things aren't always that linear especially fun.

this, i go to vegas once a year, takes 20 hours to get there, play poker for 10/12 days til it comes out my ears and cant wait to get out of the place at the end of it all

does your job allow you to take a career break? year off type-thing? why not opt for that and see how it goes - keep your options open

29 year old with a masters degree that has a $100k+ salaried job + $150k in life roll (liquid no less) with nothing to worry about...... I'm actually dying of envy right now (assuming OP's being truthful)......WTF HOW DO I BECOME YOU

Grass is always greener on the other side.

"Love of the game" is what screws up you guys that can't stick with it full time. If you see it as just a way to earn a living, instead of a fun activity that you "love" being ruined by being forced to play it, then it's just work. Something you have to do to get paid.

OP--watch American Beauty.