In America- the better the job the better the pay and better the vacation. As a teacher I never got the big bucks but only worked 180 days a year. I loved snow days, although we made snow days up at the end of year before our 10 week vacation besides the other vacations, it was nice having a surprise sit at home (too snowy and dangerous to go out), drink tea, make cookies day! I loved being a teacher anyway and we deserved the days off. It's an intense job when done correctly. Not great pay but vacation compensation.
Tom, you worked hard and honed your skills to be where you are (made good decisions, no doubt) and you know obviously you're lucky to have what you have.
America - land of opportunity, huge discrepancies, it all depends on many factors.