Everyone keeps telling me I have a “good career”, but I’m absolutely miserable. Do I make a shift?

34M, USA, Bachelors in Music.

I joined the USPS a year ago. I was hired on and made “regular” in 6 months and am on a “retirement route”. It’s about easy/good as it’s going to get.

For context, most new hires start as a City Carrier Assistant (CCA) and then promote to Part Time Flexible (PTF) after 2 years. Then you promote to Regular whenever a route opens up. You get your own route and you’re a real career carrier. The big difference between being a CCA and PTF is that PTFS make more money and get career benefits (time counts towards retirement, access to insurance, TSP, 401K, pension etc). When you convert to Reg, nothing really changes at least in my experience- no pay bump etc.

I went through this process (PTF- Reg) in 6 months and have been here for 1 year total.

Anyways- I applied for the job because I wanted to work outdoors, walk, be by myself etc. it seemed like a dream.

Reality is vastly different and I am honestly miserable at my job. Some health issues popped up which made doing my job difficult (walking 10+ miles a day), so I’ve transferred to a fully mounted route in hopes I can address some of my health issues and get back to a nice walking route.

Aside from that, the workplace feels archaic and I dread going into work because I know I’m going to be hassled by my management no matter how good or quick of a job I do. Im consistently at risk of being mandated to come in on my days off, And I’m regularly hearing my coworkers complain about everything- it’s just wearing on me.

And the kicker is I don’t make enough money to afford my own rent. I’m in a relationship that I want to get out of and I’m looking at apartments and some private rooms are almost 50% of my income. We get annual raises, COLA etc but I’ll likely top out of the equivalent of $35 in 10-15 years

I just do not see a future in this job, at all and it feels like a dead end job. I remember when I first got hired in and a union steward was going over some paperwork and said something about how much I’ll make and have for retirement in “25 years!” And my heart was filled with terror- imagine a voiceover of Ralphie from A Christmas Story “25 years? 25 years?!”

I’ve barely made it a year, there’s no way I’d make it 25-30 years

I just don’t know what to do. I use to manage the shipping/fulfillment/QA department for a prestigious musical instrument company and I was just bored and needed a change so I left and now that I’m here at USPS 4 years later I’d do anything to go back to that job.

I do have a bachelors degree in music as well - I was in a band with a 2x Grammy winning artist but I got into a car accident and my brain hasn’t been the same so music is hard to play, but I’m contemplating pursuing a masters or PHD in something health/science/psych related

My dream job is to be a personal trainer or physical therapist, maybe even a DO. Fortunately I’ve been studying under one of the great strength coaches for the last 3-4 years so I have a legit education and unique experience and he tells me I’d make a good coach.

I just don’t want to make a mistake and end up leaving a “good” job and regret it like I do with my previous career.

And I keep seeing people on Reddit talk about their retirement and IRA/401K etc and how they’re just waiting 25-30 years and they’re going to retire but that thought terrifies me

Do I really have a good job and am just not seeing it?