Hitting crossroad on life with values

[theoneandonly12]

I am in my 30s and have a decent paying job. I am hitting a crossroad and having difficulty on deciding what I really want out of life.

On one hand my original plan when I was single was live with my parents and eventually take over my parents house. Their house is in a really good location. My parents depend on me financially so it was only fitting. I picture having the option to retire much earlier, travel, enjoy life, and not have to work as much. Just work part time. There is alot of freedom and certainty with this path. I always dislike work and trading time for money. Being able to have the option to work whenever I want and eventually escape the rat race per se was appealing. 

Now I have a girlfriend soon to be wife and she wants independence and basically the american dream. House in the suburbs, have kids, etc... Houses here are expensive. I am just worried about being trapped like I see so many people are. Living the rat race working all the time paying bills. They don't even have the time to enjoy their life. I do want kids, but I don't care for nice house if it means that I am trapped. However thats like the next stage of being an adult is having your own place and living your life. So I guess it boils down to being selfish, choosing money/financial freedom or choosing traditional roles of an adult. What is deemed fulfilling. Anyone got personal stories? 

Edited 14 hours ago by theoneandonly12