- I'm happy, but not very

- I'm financially successful, but not very

- I like what I do, but too much

- I'm comfortable, but not too comfortable.

It's like my entire personality, likes, and dislikes have been smeared into a 2-dimensional caricature and propped up by a couple supports, for everyone to see and admire. This sort of existence is safe, inoffensive, and unremarkable.

Love your blog btw, it gives me confidence to be more like myself in my own life.

Yes, I'd agree with this. You make more money in a corporate gig, but if you're doing it for passion, not money, then the money doesn't overcome the corporate shackles.

I have done the solo thing and have come to realize I much prefer coding for others. There’s just too much annoying bullshit in running a business and I don’t need to deal with almost any of that as an employee despite getting basically all the same freedom, impact, and influence as a high level engineer.

There’s even a point where things switch from your boss telling you what to do to your boss asking you what to do.