Easier said than done and a bit short-sighted. I would argue that over the long run, the stress of having to track down and find new projects while maintaining

Easier said than done and a bit short-sighted. I would argue that over the long run, the stress of having to track down and find new projects while maintaining a steady stream of income produces much higher stress levels than a 9-5 job. Some people can deal with that, others not so much. You will also have periods where you are flush with cash and periods where you may go months on end without income. Again, some people can handle this, others not so much. Are your hours really better when you factor in all of the business administration and marketing of yourself that you will need to do? Probably not. So, are you really ready? That's a much deeper question and not so easily answered.