CBS Jane Clayson reports.

NEW YORK -- The economy is trying to recover since the attacks on Sept. 11 and the focus now is on consumer confidence. Many jobs depend on people once again, braving airplanes and shopping malls. But getting a job these days is about more than just a paycheck. It's also about fulfillment.

As the holidays draw near, retailers around the country are hoping to find consumers a little more in the mood to buy. But it's a tough sell.

As Americans continue to lose jobs in the wake of Sept. 11, many are re-thinking, what they want from a job. Money isn't everything anymore.

"Not a whole lot of quality of life to tell you the truth," says Chris Orloff. He took a major pay cut, and moved from a desk job to managing a restaurant.

"What is important in your life? Your family's important, your friends are important, and it really comes down to your job being important as well," he says.

Even in California's Silicon Valley, where the high-tech boom turned to bust, there's a new attitude.

"Most of these people have been working so hard at their job for a couple of years that they don't know what it's like to have fun during the day," says Andrew Brenner. He along with Michael Feldman was once a dot-com executive. They are both now unemployed.

"And I had to lay everyone off, including myself," says Feldman.

"It's a very tough economy out there," notes Brenner.

So they started what's called: "Recession Camp," where out of work techies meet to go on hikes, take in a museum, or volunteer at a food bank.

"Get out of the house, and get a life. And be happy, healthy and social," says Feldman.

"I got a balance in my life that I hope to keep up when I do get my next job," adds Brenner.

Career counselor Patti Wilson says it's an incredible change.

"I've had people say to me, having a $100,000 job didn't matter anymore. What mattered was having a $40,000 job that didn't make you work as long and as hard as a $100,000 job," she says.

It could be one of the few silver linings of Sept. 11.

"Emotionally, it kind of really put things in perspective. I mean, there's a lot of worse things to have happen than to lose your job," says Feldman.

"This has been a wake up call for everyone to look at what are you doing on a day-to-day basis and is it worthwhile for you," adds Wilson.