Tim, I went through exactly this entire process here over the past few months!

Realizing what you want to do next is exhilarating indeed.

Agreed, a clear "safety plan" of savings + the option to return to a 9-to-5 (for me that would be a worst case scenario) gives you the freedom to start experimenting more.

At the end, I realized life is short.

Though my pursuit might be foolish, I'd rather be foolish now than sorry years later when I look back on life only to wonder 'what if'...

What if I'd taken that chance? What if I'd chosen to do work that matters to me now, and pay the price for this freedom, rather than put things off till I'm old and grey (if I do get there, again life is short)?

Sacrificing the best years of my life for a hypothetical golden retirement 30 years away doesn't make sense to me anymore. I'm looking for meaning and purpose in the here and now.

It's up to each of us to choose the arrangement that suits best in light of circumstances, passions and talents etc.

After months of soul-searching, I'm confident in my choice. Excited to see where you go from there Tim!