Perhaps every story is different in some way, but there will be common themes running through them all. I almost feel like your question is really "why might I

Perhaps every story is different in some way, but there will be common themes running through them all. I almost feel like your question is really "why might I want to settle down when I'm loving what I'm doing right now?" Here's the thing though: you don't have to settle down and there's no reason why you should if you don't want to. If you feel better running your own show and make it work, continue doing that. I'm completely unsold on working on someone else's ideas rather than my own, and I'm not really a fan of being a little worker bee in someone else's business either -- it feels deeply unsatisfying for me. Perhaps this is just how I'm wired up (and, without meaning to mangle Ben Franklin's words), I value freedom over job security. I just can't get excited about the idea of "settling down" with a company. Try to do what makes you happy if at all possible. If you end up in a situation that's no longer making you happy, work to change it. Bonus points if you can choose the option that makes for the better story.