I work part-time as a strategy consultant. I get paid only for the hours I bill to a client, and I work for a big firm based in another state. I am a specialist in a really narrow, obscure area of expertise, so I don't have that much competition for clients. Random, lucky way my career has played out.

As long a I work a certain number of hours (including hours I don't get paid for, like when I'm on an internal training call or, or posting on LinkedIn to make people realize how fucking brilliant and indispensable I am), I get full benefits from the firm – which is what makes all the difference in the world.

We rent a very small house in a rural area of RI.