Funny that I came across your posting .. but I’m at the same place now. I’m a mom too, but my children are grown and moving on with their lives. Today’s mother’s day and it was a tough day. It only underscored for me how that part of my life – a life that I loved – is finished. Part of the issue is that I’m separating from my husband too. Which is a good thing. I spent 35 years in an abusive relationship. Why I ask myself? And the answer … for my children. To give them a semblance of a “normal” life. I was too busy working and trying to keep everything together for them. And now I feel like I’ve been left behind in the dust. They have partners and jobs and lives which is how it should be. I have 4 daughters and all I ever wanted was for them to be independent. And so they are. So what do I do now? Lay down and die? Nahhhh … I’m free now to pursue whatever I want to do. I’m just feeling sorry for myself tonight. I’ll take some time to just sit. Hopefully meditate. And wait for these feelings to pass.

Thinker, you’ve asked some really good questions about the meaning of life. My answer is to keep questioning and to keep searching for that special something that lights a spark in your life. Don’t settle! There’s always something left to “accomplish” .. but that something doesn’t have to be related to money. What do you like to do when you’re not doing all those things society tells us we have to do? Sing? Paint? Dance? Play music? Work with people? Travel? Question .. always question .. that’s the only way you’ll find an answer.

Much love and peace to you and all those who continue to search for life’s meaning.

I like Jordan’s answer. In another words, you’re bored.
To answer your question “Why are we here?” – We’re here to live. But probably this is not the answer that you’re looking for. Your questions are bad formulated, probably unanswerable. “Are we just supposed to work at jobs we don’t like to buy stuff we don’t need?” – If you want yes, if you don’t want then no. – would be my answer and it is probably not what you’re looking for.
When our minds are bored they will create things to act upon real or not real. More intelligent you are, more complex things you’ll create. Finally you’ll start creating paradoxes and unanswerable questions that goes full cycle, are really complex and serves no real purpose in your life, it just keeps your mind busy. This will consume a lot of your time and bring unhappiness.
How do you feel when you’re dueling on those questions? How is your state? For me it used to create stress and take out focus, making me unproductive.
Do you know the Socratic Paradox “I know that I know nothing”? How intelligent this question looks like, you can spend all your life talking about it but there is no point at all, it just goes full cycle. His mind created that argument to prove that he was the wisest man because he knew that he was ignorant while others didn’t. Well, he just proved himself more ignorant than the others also, didn’t he? Invalidating his argument. And we can go on forever…
I think it’s also important to note that every argument that mind can create it can create a counter argument. Everything that I just wrote you can find a way to argue against. It’s the nature of an argument.
Questions are very important but they should serve a purpose. So if the answer of the question can’t be acted upon or it’s not beneficial it doesn’t deserve my attention. That’s how I’m sharpening my logic.