Are we here for a Good Time?

A song was going through my mind this morning. Trooper's "We're Here for a Good Time," and the song follow with 'not a long time.' For some reason I started to think seriously about the implications of these lines.

It is true that we aren't here for long time, relatively speaking. The billions of years that stretch uncaringly on either side of our lives are testament to the brevity of the flicker that is our existence. But, of course, that doesn't invalidate the meaning of that flicker. Duration does NOT equal meaning.

The question then remains, are we here for a good time? Back to this in a moment.

In an effort to find meaning, or at least to quell the chaos, over the years I have searched for the Time Management System, from Covey, to GTD to everything in between. The hope, the aim was that I would find a way to find a way. To manage all the noise so that I could get the right things done. Do the work, clean the yard, read the book. But the real question isn't how to manage my life and time. The real question is, what can I do with my life and time that MATTERS. I can stay busy, but busy at what.

In the grand scheme, if there is one, what is it that I am to do with the small 3 score and 10 I have allotted to me, and that now is over half spent. Am I to merely embrace pleasure, and avoid pain. The Stoic path even points to this, by redefining true pleasure to be eudaimonia. But it amounts to the same thing as Epicureanism, just with the points redefined. Are we here for a "Good Time", however we may define 'Good'?

Is this even the right question? Wherein lies the meaning, the mattering? Where should I be pouring my daily resources and my concious hours? Should I strive to maintain the job I have, so that I can keep paying for the life I have, the house, the kids, food, clothing, bills? Should I leave, seek to fulfill the 'true inner self' and damn all the consequences?

The answer to that question lies partly in compromise, partly in cowardice, and partly in comfort. I WILL keep working at my job, though it is  no longer one that fulfills any direct purpose in my life, to support the choices of the past, the moments of comfort and joy, though they are brief. Perhaps because this is what they call a 'difficult' time.

But there are other things that have filled my time. Things that not part of my comfort, things that do not add to me, but draw from me. The challenge there is that I am loved and admired. And that is a form of repayment. But sometimes it feels like an audience/actor relationship. And it is a large time commitment.

But as I asked Adam, what else would I be doing with my time? Maintaining the house, living the Canadian dream? Waiting to die? What AM I here for? A good time? or a meaningful one?