It seems to me we hold differing contexts when considering these questions, Presto.

I am advocating the long-term pursuit of eudaimonia, because even though the short-term may not be as "fun," the long term profits are worth it.

I don’t understand. If one is pursuing eudaimonia long-term, how could the short term not also be pleasurable? For example, while I was in grad school, much of the day-to-day work was repetitive—going to classes, reading a shitload of complex papers, advancing research projects, teaching, etc. And even though I recognized that at some level [and have groused about it a good amount], at a higher level it was still pleasant to me: I was pursuing a goal that had been very important to me for many years, and that was worthwhile even if some of the details on the journey were not. And even though that sheepskin is now very much less important to me than it was then, I still consider those years fun and profitable, albeit in a more personal and much less academic way. For a better answer, I really can’t do better than what Pagan has written.

Hmmmm. A couple of thoughts just occurred to me. Perhaps implicit in such considerations is one’s fundamental outlook on life—is the glass half-full or half-empty type of thing. Also, I should have made it clear that I had in mind a more mature/rational/informed context of fun, rather than the impetuous pursuits that can characterize youth ... and which we hope we learn and grow from.