You make some good points about the stress associated with contracting and bringing up a family. It is stressful knowing that in x months your back looking, or

You make some good points about the stress associated with contracting and bringing up a family. It is stressful knowing that in x months your back looking, or back on the market. But at the same time I dont think the grass is greener being permanent. I know lots of people who have been made redundant more than once in permanent roles, and couple that with being tied to some near obsolete technology places you in a worse position than having to keep on top of your skillset for contracting. I dont mind staying a developer at the moment, but even in contracting terms there is still opportunity to move sideways to analyst roles, or at the moment data roles by being selective with contracts I sometimes wish I was permanent - but then realise that actually offers me more security in spite of the downside