ksmith | Questions for freelancers

I tried to construct a poll for this, but the questions were so numerous and nuanced that I figured it would go on forever. So, I'm asking you folks out there who are now or once were freelance, who what when where why? What made you decide to give it a shot? Were you prepared (frex, savings, a client list)? Do you have a spouse/sig fig who has health insurance or who otherwise provides support? Did you ease into it, building it up while ramping down the day job, or did mood/circumstances compel you to jump off the deep end of the pool? How old are you?

If you're a former freelancer, why did you quit?