I've basically never had a 'normal' job on someone else's payroll (with 3 exceptions over ~40Y). I've always been noodling around waiting for the next idea and

I've basically never had a 'normal' job on someone else's payroll (with 3 exceptions over ~40Y). I've always been noodling around waiting for the next idea and consulting around various start-ups. WARNING: this approach has not made me a billionaire, YMMV. I am solvent, with a paid off house, savings, a family including two happy teens doing well at school, and have just started in academia FTW... B^>