Thanks for sharing Babycat, I'm a little bit late in this thread. It's good too get a perspective from the ML - we don't really know what life is like on the other side. I'm sure we all started somewhere similar - working long hours for shitty pay (I know I did). Yes, we don't all end up as ML or WL (damn, if I could get paid for massaging women and giving them a happy ending - I'd be in there like a slingshot). As long as you keep it from your family and friends and you enjoy your job - then there isn't a problem (if you can ignore society views).
I think depression can set in - in any job. I used to travel a lot, enjoyed it at first but then the loneliness of the job got to me (that's how I got into punting). Keep your head up high and see the positive side of life.