Sure, there's a middle ground. I'm still working, living on my own in a small town about 30 min from my job. I'm a 40 min drive from a major city with gay bars/clubs, resident & visiting escorts, fine dining, theater, museums, shopping, etc. So my cost of living is low & I'm able to save for vacations, hiring, and other activities. I don't deal with the high cost of living in the city (or the traffic, noise, crime...), and I'm usually too tired during the week to go out anyway. Weekends, I can drive to the city for any of the activities listed above, then back home to the peace & quiet. If I'm going to hire, or if I plan to enjoy a few drinks when I'm out then I just get a hotel room for a night. Again, my cost of living allows for that in my budget.
-->Note: Due to the current health crisis, I have not participated in any of the aforementioned activities since the original shutdowns. Therefore my savings are really looking good for future adventures.