I hear you, @inquiringtimes.
I've also dropped my successful corporate career because I didn’t like spending 8-10 hours on work + 1-2 hours on commuting five times per week.
I've never totally dropped out of society, however. I guess that that experience makes you a richer person.
I'm relatively new here (a month) but I can say that Steemit has already changed me - I came for the money, stayed because I realized that I enjoy sharing my thoughts with other people and receiving feedback from them.
Cheers!