In my early twenties I moved to the East Coast with a bunch of my best friends. We lived, worked, and played together and it was fun. I didn't own much of anything which meant that I didn't feel any external pressures. I never had to tell myself "No."
That isn't to say I was happier, because I'm very happy now (it was a blast though). But now I have a wife, a mortgage, a car, and am aware of things like retirement savings, where I was not before. Basically, I'm on the hamster wheel (and digging it by the way) and I have to maintain a state of forward momentum to meet my current obligations to both my future self's security and happiness, as well as my current self's lifestyle. And again, -the wife.
So yea. I don't feel free like I used to during that period of my life. That is, in part, a very good and positive thing, believe me. That past, heightened, degree of mobility though is attractive. I've got a lot to do in my time before I see that again, but next time it will be earned.