You still have way more flexibility and choice. You can decide to work more, work less, find a new job etc. What you get out of it is different and perhaps you don't want to give up your lifestyle, but you can decide to do that. You have no such choices as a kid.
If only. There are pretty much two settings available to most Americans: full time or more, and poverty. Relatively few people have the luxury of being able to spend a lot of time looking for better employment (again this is on top of all the working they are doing) or working less. I, for one, would gladly work a lot less for equivalently less pay, it just isn't an option available to me.
With the alternative frequently being homelessness. It's a lucky few (relatively speaking) who can freely switch jobs and pursue passions.
Most people work simply so they can continue to have a home, food, water, heat...