>quitting my fully vested tech job to fuck off and be a cook

Are you doing entry level line cook work or something?

yeah, at a local pizza/taproom place. they share tips with cooks, works out to ~$35/hr. I'm not expecting it to replace a tech salary, but it helps offset the savings burn (which was specifically set aside for this). engaging with real people in real life about real things is also an indreeeedibly nice change of pace (even the stressful/tense moments of shit hitting the fan).

I'll re-enter tech later... maybe.