Pretend jobs reflect a massively complex economy. You get a college degree without a clue (most of us) and end up in an office and if your boss isn't an asshole (50-50) chance, you stay. Your job becomes more specialized as the years go by. Or you pivot, or both. I was a teacher, a bureaucrat, and a researcher and I was always on the edge of getting sucked into pretend jobs. I'm so grateful I could retire, but it was nothing more than luck and privilege and luck (and moving to the state with the cheapest housing available). The only thing I don't like about retirement is the never-ending pretend volunteer gigs.