My son proposed to his girlfriend (now wife) after they climbed El Capitan. He is a serious climber and engineer using proper ropes and equipment. He has since climbed it solo, and is teaching his kids to boulder.
Solo-by oneself- is different from free soloing-by oneself and w/o protection.
When free soloing became the rage, I quit.
Last summer, I went on a vacation that changed my outlook on life. One of the activities my then 11YO son and I enjoyed was a day of canyoneering in Water Canyon, UT (near Zion NP).
During our two weeks together (without women...lol), we went horseback riding in Monument Valley and near Bryce Canyon NP, trout fishing in Sedona, a ghost tour in Tombstone, and visited the Alien Museum in Roswell.
How did it change my life? I dropped all notions of working until he graduates from college! lol
I figure I'll be doing a variety of things to bring additional money as needed, but I'll finally have the flexibility to say "no" to the rat race.