First of all, in the 21st century, “job security” is an oxymoron. You can quit or wait to be let go. It’s very very likely that you’ll be staying.
And, yes, you need to take control of your life. Some years back, my wife and I quit our jobs in NYC and moved to Philadelphia—and city where we had no jobs and no friends.
We did our research before choosing Philly and never looked back. It didn’t take genius to see that we’d never make enough money to live comfortably in NYC. In Philly, my wife and I ran our own businesses with decent success. We bought TWO houses and now, reaching retirement age, will be able to stop working without drifting into poverty.
We still like working—on our own terms, and enjoy a variety of hobbies and recreations.
It makes no sense to take the straight and narrow path—especially since that path doesn’t exist.