Finances (billing, quarterly taxes, yearly taxes), lack of colleagues (I feel at best a semi-colleague if I&#x27;m somewhere long enough), lots of costs, some hidden or vague (insurances, office space, travel, laptop, utilities, etc.), possible dry spells &#x2F; less job security (not an issue yet, but still), no perks (paid learning, conferences, outings), proposals and discussions about how much things cost, even with longer-term clients.<p>And of course the fact that I can&#x27;t rely on the more &#x27;default&#x27; paths of promotions, specializing, etc. I have to <i>choose</i> to grow, or I just keep doing the same thing or risk falling behind.<p>I don&#x27;t find all these downsides. For example, I&#x27;m rather happy to not have to be around the same group of people day in, day out. Or to feel forced to go to some work event and be a &#x27;team player&#x27;. But still. Sometimes I <i>think</i> I miss it, at least.