9 to 5 corporate can be depressing, but so can the high-flying, play hard startup life. I'm seeking something somewhat in between these. At least I get paid

9 to 5 corporate can be depressing, but so can the high-flying, play hard startup life. I'm seeking something somewhat in between these. At least I get paid by the hour which in tech is a great luxury. Salaries are a scam and I stay away from them, at the price of job security. Which doesn't exist anyway, right?