Slackers

I was talking to an old friend of mine, from my PhD years. We were talking about how we're both out of a job as a postdoc, me waiting for this other position, and her in a limbo because the two grants she wrote with her ex-boss was rejected.
She's working now in B&Q for the time being, but I have a suspicion that she actually enjoys working in the sacred temple of DIY.

Then there is this other girl I met up a while ago - from my early PhD days, when she was doing a M.Sc. in the lab. She wasn't sure about doing it, but did a PhD after all, and after a couple of 2-year postdocs, she is off Stateside for another postdoc. I think she actually has done three 2-year postdocs. Am not sure.
According to her, she gets bored with a project after 2 years, and needs to move on (to a new place).

Then there is this couple, again postdocs - but they are a couple of years ahead from me, career-wise. Still postdocing.

There must be a few others who are still doing postdocs once you hit 30...I can't remember. Oh yeah, Mr.Strauss, who is out of contract soon, and was looking at an ad for a technician position.
Anyway.

The thing we have in common is that we're all in our mid-30's (bar Mr.Strauss who is ancient).

We like doing what we do, and my guess is that we are not overly ambitious to apply for lectureships (maybe others tried...). We know what being a lecturer and PI is like (having seen it first hand), and the stress and pressures that entails. Anyway, that's what I say.
Obviously, there is no immediate and dear financial hardship, and there doesn't seem to be this need to obtain earnings which are par with the age (i.e. if you are 33, you earn 33k). I'm guessing that there are some hidden financial assets available too, otherwise you wouldn't take this laid back approach to your career.
Oh, and everyone fends for themselves. Most of them don't have children, which is a bonus - you only need worry about yourself.

Is this the new "hippie" work culture for academic scientists?
I don't know what it is. Is it the realisation, that in this age of constant career changes, it seems that it is never too late to change careers? Is there a shift in perspectives about careers?
I do like the quote attributed (according to the IMDB) to the American actor, Liev Schreiber, although I am probably taking it out of context:

"You can think about your career or you can think about your job. I like to think about my job."

Which is quite useful when thinking about your day-to-day life.
I think back about what one of my supervisors said. He was one who gave out advise, like "go to the States to do your postdoc, then you will be someone" or "going back to do a second postdoc in the lab you did your PhD is not good for your career" or "you have to be a PI after your second postdoc".

Or maybe my friends and I are all living in la-la land. Having said that, looking at the newly maternal GorrillaGrrrl, maybe not.