Reply to: Putting the free back into freelancing

[PAH]

What happens when you do find the right woman and she has her ties to one area and you can't find any contracts there? Then behold you have the settled roots but the cost to quality time of having to work away from home.

That's called having a plan B!

Despite all the benefits of contracting there's obviously some major negatives otherwise we wouldn't be looking/dreaming of a way out.

Even if the negatives aren't that bad from an individual's perspective, the prospect of contracting changing beyond recognition, and for the worse, means it's probably a good idea to have at least some ideas of what you'd like to do instead.

I doubt there are many contractors in their 70s so the gig's got to end eventually, whether through retirement or doing something else instead.

[ratewhore]

On the other hand, while I have a lot of the OP's 'freedoms', I am also free to take my kids to school and pick them up; free to pick and choose my holidays so I can take them away and share experiences with them.

As a divorced dad, that is priceless in itself...

[threaded]

There's a maths puzzle asking how to maximize your chances of meeting the perfect partner over time.

If memory serves, I think the correct answer is to wait exactly "e" years, ditching all comers, and than take the first person who comes along.

Actually it's the reciprocal: 1/e i.e. choose the best one after trying 37%

It used to be called the "Classical Secretary Problem", nowadays they call it Optimal Stopping.

HTH

[Tarquin Farquhar]

I've come across many contractors who want the permie lifestyle (settled roots, family, et al) but then sacrifice their 'quality time' by having to work away from home most of the week.
...
So far 'the right woman' hasn't been right enough

What happens when you do find the right woman and she has her ties to one area and you can't find any contracts there? Then behold you have the settled roots but the cost to quality time of having to work away from home.

[George Parr]

The only good thing would be using them as test subjects for experiments involving education & psychology, but that is frowned upon.

Seek professional help. No time to lose.

[Shimano105]

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how happy people who don't want children get pressured into having them, and then becoming child abusers because they were right in the first place.

Eh?

[PAH]

Do you never think it would be nice to have kids?

Until a few years ago I wasn't really bothered either way, thinking it's something most women want so likely to happen if I did settle down.

Then a few friends started getting married and having kids and it's been a big eye opener. It really is life changing and not just some hobby you can pack in if you decide you don't like it.

As it is I think the notice period (18 years) is a bit longer than I'm used to committing to.

[PAH]

Now I've seen the light and dress on the other side.

So you're really bisexual then?

I used to wonder how George Michael could wake up one day and say he'd had enough of shagging women and wanted to do men instead. I suppose some have a bit of a grey area, or are just greedy!

Funniest thing I've seen on this 'gay or not' situation was reading a South African porn mag and it had a page where it showed a sexy young woman with nicely puckered 'lips' next to a man with a dirty hairy anus, and the caption "So are you gay?". Thought it was a bit biased myself seeing as the mag was most definately aimed at straight blokes.

[Pogle]

I doubt it in my case. I don't just dislike the idea of having kids, I dislike kids in general and pretty much everything about them. Other people I know who say "I used to be the same" have no idea, I make them look like baby boomers in comparison

The only good thing would be using them as test subjects for experiments involving education & psychology, but that is frowned upon.

So you've had a vasectomy then ..?

[Mr.Whippy]

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how happy people who don't want children get pressured into having them, and then becoming child abusers because they were right in the first place.

child abusers aren't "right" in any sense of the word. You're living up to your name.

My kid wasn't planned at all, it just happened. No pressure from either one of us and now I'm glad it happened as it totally changed my opinion. That's all I was saying....sick of some of the "know it all" idiots on this forum.

[HairyArsedBloke]

The only good thing would be using them as test subjects for experiments involving education & psychology, but that is frowned upon.

Not everywhere. I'm sure that the same places where all our jobs have gone to will allow you to experiment on children in anyway you wish. It's core to their business model.

[Numpty]

I used to be of exactly the same opinion. It all changes when/if you have your own though.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how happy people who don't want children get pressured into having them, and then becoming child abusers because they were right in the first place.

[Pogle]

I doubt it in my case. I don't just dislike the idea of having kids, I dislike kids in general and pretty much everything about them. Other people I know who say "I used to be the same" have no idea, I make them look like baby boomers in comparison

The only good thing would be using them as test subjects for experiments involving education & psychology, but that is frowned upon.

Oops - really?

[d000hg]

I used to be of exactly the same opinion. It all changes when/if you have your own though.

I doubt it in my case. I don't just dislike the idea of having kids, I dislike kids in general and pretty much everything about them. Other people I know who say "I used to be the same" have no idea, I make them look like baby boomers in comparison

The only good thing would be using them as test subjects for experiments involving education & psychology, but that is frowned upon.

[Mr.Whippy]

Ican think of few things worse

I used to be of exactly the same opinion. It all changes when/if you have your own though.