At this time 2 years ago I was in boot camp so I'll go a little farther back then that.
At the time I changed jobs every few months or so. I went between different fast food places and other minimal wage jobs where I was always low on cash. Now I have a garunteed paycheck and can afford to have a hobby or go out to have fun once in a while. I still play video games as a main hobby it's just nice to know I have other options. I play games a lot less.
At the time I was always partying with friends. Drinking plus ... seemed to be all their really was for us to do and it was fun. For a whole summer I only came home once or twice a week to sleep before going off somewere again. Many good memories came from it though. Now it varies, but a majority of my weekends are spent hanging outside the barracks with a beer or two with the rest of the barracks soldiers. It feels really empty.
At the time (and still) I had some great friends. I've known "Sweetpea" for 8 years now, Cher for 5, Rich for 8, Jeff for 3, and my cousin my whole life. Others were around but I considered these my real friends. I had a very close relationship with each of them in our own way and it was nice having the fellowship. Now, I still see them when I go home, but where I'm at I don't have any real friends. There's people I talk to and work with but no real friendsiip. It's pretty lonely.

All in all, I can say 2 years ago I was happier but now I have more of a future to look forward to. I loved my simple lifestyle and miss it very much but don't regret it. I knew I had to do something to start a future and started down it when the time came. Now isn't the best of times but in 2 years I'll go back home to a better place for me and have a way to live and I'll enjoy it very much.