who have opted out of a standard approach to life (study then full time work, mortgage etc), please share your stories. What are the best and worst things about your lifestyle, and do you have any regrets?

I took the leap about five years ago. I was tired of the cycle, just waking up to pay bills for a house I barely spent time in. I sold most of my gear, bought an older camper van, and started taking short-term contract jobs across the country instead of sticking to one spot. It definitely wasn't easy at first, especially when my friends were talking about promotions or getting their second mortgages, but the freedom to just pick up and move whenever I feel like it is pretty addictive.

The best part is definitely the lack of that constant, low-level anxiety about "what's next" on the corporate ladder. I've seen more of the coast in these last few years than I did in the previous decade. But yeah, the worst thing is the instability. When things break—and they always do—you don't have a landlord to call, and sometimes the paycheck is a bit thin if you're between gigs. Loneliness can hit you too, since you're always the new guy in a new town.

Do I have regrets? Honestly, not really. I miss having a proper dishwasher sometimes, and it’d be nice to have a bigger fridge, but I don't miss the grind. I think the key is knowing you can always go back to the standard life if you want, but once you get a taste of not being tied down to a 30-year payment plan, it’s hard to imagine going back to that same old routine. It’s not for everyone, but if you value your time more than your possessions, it’s worth a shot.