You did not go down the wrong path in life, you just didn't go down her path. And I'm sure most married persons can redefine the term happy for you. From what little you told me recently, you have quite a unique and eventful story. You are much more interesting than many people I know who settled down and followed all the rules to the game of life.
I myself went to college and work dead end jobs to pay off insane student loans. People sometimes envy me because of the jobs I've gotten but I don't feel any better about myself, I only did what I thought was expected of me. College did not make me a better person.
When I see women my age in new sporty cars, impeccable hair, makeup, and clothing, I want to crawl in a hole and die. The worst case of a self esteem breakdown is when I travel through airports and see really stylish, classy businesswomen. I usually dress down, wearing flip flops and barely finding effort to comb my crappy hair. I also used to bike to work because I was too poor to afford a car.
I guess what I mean to say is if you really wanted that path in life you would have chosen it. If you got married a decade ago you might have gone nuts trying to be a housewife when you truly yearned experience the independent life.
I was at a house party once and these girls were flashing their engagement rings, bragging extensively. One finally turned to me and asked if I was anyone's fiance. I told her no I am single as they get. And I was okay with that. I was only that party trying to flirt with a loser whom I had a fling with. Lol. I've been up until 3-6 am the past few nights. I often take melatonin because my insomnia is usually only stress related and just 3mg of that stuff knocks me out in half an hour.