Unless you are extremely self-motivated, I think it might be better to be 80% financially independent than 100%.

Having forces acting on you to get you out of bed and be useful might be the best thing for you.

Yes, by all means, don't live paycheck to paycheck or have to work in a demeaning way.

But there have been studies showing that mortality goes up for people who have retired.

I got into software development out of passion --I did it for fun and for my own purposes starting at age 10. I am 33 now. I don't see myself being an employee forever. While I feel like I am just as good a programmer as ever, I am less willing to be exploited by employers. Earlier in my career, I gave way too much of my time, focus, and energy to my employers. This newfound moderation may seem like a decline in performance, skill, and ability --but it is deliberate.

Still, I feel it would be very foolish to be fully dependent on any kind of career.

I’d personally rather not struggle for an uncertainty. And I’d like to find what matters to me sooner rather than later.