Other people - the ones still caught in the rat race - always try to bring you down to their level. I'm always surprised when I see the spiteful look in their eye. A guy I know once went 'I can't wait for you to get a real job'...I almost burst out laughing - why, so I can be as miserable as you are now?
But I agree with you, it's a choice, being happy and staying out of the rat race. not always an easy one, but that doesn't justify enslaving ourselves.