There may be another local org that can let you buy into group insurance and resources that isn’t necessarily freelancer-centric. For example, our small home-based company was able to join the Pittsburgh Technology Council.

My son was born 6 months ago, thankfully with no complications, and at the end of the day the Australian government *gave us* A$4000. That’s in addition to no cost for public hospital ante-natal care, the delivery, etc. Our only out of pocket expenses were about A$400 for additional sonograms, they were by no means necessary, but I got to see my son’s face before he was born (3D/4D scan)

Then my wife, as a school teacher, was entitled to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave.

Makes me feel ungrateful for complaining about a case of burnout. As a new parent, I sincerely hope for the best outcome for your family.

I love making a living with little more than a laptop and thought stuff but right now I feel so vulnerable. I think back to my cubical days – there I had the support of a large organizations where, when this kind of thing happens, I could take the time off to deal with things and know I had a paycheck and a place when I was ready to come back. As it is now I’m in and out of doctors offices during the day and up until the wee hours scrambling to catch up. The clients aren’t getting my best work, I’m (at best) running in circles fighting fires, and time for new customer acquisition is the last thing on my mind.

We NEED networks of support so that web workers aren’t one tragedy away from returning to a day job.

Since humans are such social creatures, having positive re-enforcement, shared values and aspirations, etc. from the people around you is necessary to achieve daring goals. I do not mean this in just an abstract sense, but physical as well; family and friends on the one hand, neighbors, coworkers… the people who share your physical space on the other.

If you ever begin to feel like the pressure to conform to those around you is growing, do not take it as some kind of personal weakness. We are social animals, and all that. Think about surrounding yourself with the right sort of people, instead.

If you are young and single, look for art lofts or other collective living spaces — or coordinate leases and forge a new one with your friends.

If you are married, have children, or laden with property and such, no matter — look ahead to the future and think about moving into close proximity with friends when the kids are out of college or at retirement. A neighborhood or virtual village.

Much, much easier said than done. I think the people, or groups, that figure it out first will be the ones that succeed most going forward; how will chronically disgruntled individuals compete against the creative (or even economic) output of a network of supportive cheer?

People in suits can think what they like, but I hope that when they see me wandering out to check the mail in shorts and a t-shirt on a summer afternoon, they wonder what they’re missing – because in a good month, I probably make twice what they do :-)

My tax returns are something else though…