I appreciate your comment! Legally I was freelancing since this was not employment, taxwise or contractually. Client or myself could sever ties at any moment, which is exactly what ended up happening. In fact this agreement only lasted for a few weeks. I did not update the blog to mention that.

While you’re correct that there was fear initially, this graduation into full time freelancing was what I personally needed to take the plunge. At the time my husband was self employed so I was the only guaranteed paycheck we had.

I am now what I think you would consider a “real freelancer” and I am loving it - I am enjoying the benefits you mentioned and I am also taking on the stuff I don’t enjoy as much - the financial paperwork and working more hours than I used to. But it is all on my terms.

Thanks again - Janet

- choose the time when you work, including a) time during the day, b) periods (at least weeks) of freedom from work spread throughout the year (you contract probably kills condition b)

- choose the clients you work for so you don’t have to do that stupid work you had to on a full time job again - again, binding yourself to one client may force you to “listen to him”

It looks like you feel very scared of what’s out there for a freelancer, so you just came back to the old model of work as closely as possible to get back to the comfort zone…

I’ll admit, I primarily use Martha’s site for browsing recipes, and haven’t had much problems there. You make me want to explore further, though. Good design does not make a good web site - usability should definitely the primary goal.