I’ve never understood this argument. “I couldn’t not work because I’d be too bored/I need to feel useful/I need mental/physical enrichment, etc.” You can be unemployed and still do things. You don’t have to sit on your couch all day staring at the wall. You can take up hobbies, volunteer, travel, all without having to worry about a work schedule. I would retire in an instant if I had the opportunity.
Some people don’t function well without hard boundaries or someone else holding them accountable. I don’t get it myself but it seems to be pretty common. It includes the “I can’t work from home because I’d just play Xbox all day” crowd.
I agree wholeheartedly, and when we got locked down for COVID I learned how to play guitar and automate my house using a raspberry pi. It was a great time, and I look back on it fondly. I finally had time to pursue things that interested me, that I didn’t have time for with work.
Nowadays I play guitar and tinker with home automation, and work as well, but back then I had the hours to put in to starting the hobbies.