Recruiter reached out about a machine learning engineer role at a mid-size company, decent pay, remote-friendly. Did a first call. Politely withdrew before the technical round. Not because I don't think I'd pass it. I probably would. Because I sat with the idea of spending 40 hours a week building someone else's roadmap and felt something close to dread. I have exactly one project I actually want to work on, I already know what it is, and I've been working on it for five and a half years without anyone's permission or budget. Taking a job would mean less time on it, not more resources for it — there's no version of "machine learning engineer at a mid-size company" that lets me keep doing what I'm actually doing on the side. Staying at the hardware store part-time after graduation. Dave's fine with it, doesn't ask questions about why a CS grad wants to keep stocking shelves. Money's not great but it's enough, between that and living at home still, which — yes, I'm aware that's not a permanent plan, but it's the plan for now.