Most of my friends and co-workers think it is crazy that I vacation without my family once per year. However I feel it is important for me to 'Adventure' and bond with with friends once a year as well as let whatever steam in the family that has been built up, go away.

For me fishing trips or backpacking trips that last ten days can make a whole year seem fulfilled without the sacrifice of scrapping for money, taking less than great jobs, etc.

A friend of mine though, worked at REI and they were extremely flexible with his Adventuring. He probably spent three months a year on outdoor activities for the company. Maybe you can mate your type of Adventure with a way to get paid for it.