>Most of us decide that we are ready when a contract offer comes through the door.

or we grow bored, generally disgusted with the companies we work for, frustrated with lack of skill advancement, mentally ill from babysitting legacy apps, disillusioned with the level of programmers we are forced to work beside, and/or we just finally get up the nerve to JUST DO IT.

< smirk > or purrrrrhaps all of the above ;)