You are certainly missing out on having a stable career that can pay you enough to afford retirement and the ability to live your life in however you want (within reason).

Not sure I agree. I only need 1200 per month in retirement. I am well on track to earn that by investing 800 per year for the next 30 years. I still have my writing skills and I can live anywhere in the world, meaning I can live in cheaper locations that I love, collect my pension and earn money writing. With regards to the ability to live my life how I want, a normal job doesn't enable that. I love to travel for long durations, live in other cultures, not be stuck in one place.