I’d love to just create in a sun-drenched attic for a bunch of the day, then emerge and have quality time with family and friends, punctuated by adventures both local and further afield.

There are many reasons why I never wanted to go on the conventional career path and end up pursuing a field that would have put me on any kind of “normal” career track.

  • Needing to control my environment.
  • Needing more down time (AKA recuperating from, well, everything) than a 40-hour-a-week job can possibly provide.
  • Needing to have to do things less often.
  • Needing to have control over my schedule.
  • Not wanting to commit to one field to the exclusion of all the others I am/was interested in.
  • Wanting to be at home with my kids when I had them (and not just for 1-3 months).

The results of this, though, are mixed.

The big pros include: Having amazing relationships with my children (as they were growing up and now) and getting to be there for them for their whole upbringing. Usually having enough flexibility to take care of my own needs, and not having to make special arrangements for trips, appointments, or anything else. Getting to learn a little about a lot of things over the years.

The big cons include: A lack of financial security, ongoingly and for the future (i.e., I have no idea how we’re going to survive financially for the rest of my life, mostly because of stupid health care costs). A lack of depth of knowledge in a particular field.

Everything has trade-offs, to be sure. But when a lack of money is really the only big con that matters, I guess I’m happy with my choices.

But it also means we need to live somewhere affordable (and yet safe).

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