>DON'T WE ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep - one of the overriding factors for me with wanting to change was a desire to take time away from work without requiring a hospital stay. In theory, after 8 years at Weatherhill, I was entitled to 4 weeks paid vacation plus holidays. Aside from some (admittedly extended) stints in the hospital and one VFP-related conf a year I wasn't able to take time away from both Weatherhill and clients without checking in daily and carrying a pager or cellphone with me. This will change - the only question now is will I actually take advantage of the new-found freedom, since as an independent consultant, if I'm not working, I'm not getting paid, and I'm greedy.

I've been on both side of broke but free of stress, and overworked but amply compensated, and given a choice, there's a lot going for being comfortably well-to-do. Being broke sucks.