Razz, I don’t think UL is “comfortable with the noise of debt around his neck” at all. I think he is trying to get rid of it as quickly as he can, and I don’t think he’s trying to rationalize, I think he’s trying to explain.

if you look at the facts and the math, he has no better choice.

yes, there are better choices -
get a job making twice as much money
inherit a couple hundred thousand dollars from a long lost rich uncle
win the lottery
to name three...

but for UL, they are imaginary scenerios, not real choices.

i’m sure If he found somebody who wanted to pay him twice as much her would jump at the opportunity (assuming the job seemed secure - it would suck to move, increase debt payments, lose the job, and have wasted all those years of undesirable employment....) he has looked for other jobs.

if you have the the winning lottery numbers he’d probably be willing to play them.