One other suggesting: temping. It's not just typing these days---there are temps for everything: legal, pr, it, etc. If you've got skills, you can work as much, or as little, as you'd like. And if you don't like the job, you don't have to return....

Not to mention health insurance and paid vacations. Temping is great for someone who loves to pack up and travel. I have friends who work solidly for three months and then take a month to travel. One is a legal temp, the other is in accounting--both left high stress and high paying jobs for this vagabond lifestyle. And love it.