I “stumbled in Zionism” as a child: my day school was unmistakably Eretz Yisroel oriented, full of teachers that were Israeli yordim. (ironic) One set of my grandparents retired for the second time to EY. My parents were olim late in their careers and worked for some years. I made the move in my 40s, and have been able to transfer my livelihood, such as it is. I sometimes get used to the local attitude, but not always. I came here for a lift in ruchnius. With a touch of ESP that runs in the family, I saw the US in spiritual decline and in a downward spiral of economic in-sustainability. I had an opportunity to make the move before the US housing bubble popped.
For me, “Zionism” is the connection of mitzva observance with the land (Ramban parshat kedoshim) There is the concept of ????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?? ?????? That we are meant to live here, and if sovereign, to have a system of government. (Rambam hilchot melachim) The current government is less than halachically acceptable, but so was the rule of the Hasmoneans. If you dismiss Jewish sovereignty of even bad character, perhaps you should reconsider celebrating Chanuka.
As for the economic hardship, people of the old yishuv. the Chachmei provence, the talmidim of the Gra, the aliya of chassidim, these people faced horrific starvation, disease and want. It did not deter them. I would figure that the current gap in income to compared to chul is greater than seah b seataim, but that standard is edited (bame devarim amurim) to when there is nothing to be had at any price. There are gashmiut things that are hard to come by, but not all critical to a modest lifestyle, and it is a lacking is kvod EY to express the lack of basic needs. (Torat MOshe Shoftim/ mi hoish)