While Tom has a real job, and can handle the real world, he still has to create his own little world to help cope with things. He can deal with having a job and talking to people but in the end, he would rather just have his own little world and shut out everyone else and avoid reality to escape to his little "bubble". I think he uses going to the movies as an escape from everything else and to get a break.
He works and gets his business done however he drinks a lot, all the time and he smokes really often which I think he also uses as an escape. He says he needs adventure and he can't get that in the warehouse ("Id rather somebody picked up a crowbar and battered out my brains"). With Tom however I think by keeping in his bubble, he might be slightly depressed with how his life turned out to be. I think I would also be depressed or sad/mad if I felt I had tons of potential to be using my time/work ethic more wise and I was suck working crazy hours at a factory not making nearly as much as I feel I deserve.
When I think about now, I think that a lot of people settle for what they can get. It's so hard to find a job, that most people just find something with a pay thats they can barely live from check to check. They settle for a job with crazy hours, and sometimes even multiple jobs working all hours of the day/night just to make ends meet with jobs that require lots of labor, working with the public or even fast food. The stress form working those types of jobs can cause a person to settle for less than they should and make them eventually feel worthless or unimportant which can lead to depression.
I understand the way Tom feels but at the same time, you just have to do what you've got to do until you can find better.
