I spent the duration of my PhD getting paid to do science and using that stipend to support me, future me, my imaginary future children, and my habit of making art on the side. Then I spent 6 months getting paid to make art and using that profit to support me while finishing up some science work that I was trying to do unpaid.

(It WAS like 6 months of that moment when Mr. Burns got that can-opener from the Leftorium: one side of my brain would get up in the morning and mock, "Ah, the worm has turned, has it not, my tin-plated friend? Look at you, you were once so proud. Feel the wrath of the left hand of Burns!" 1/2 of my brain is apparently tin-plated and full of tuna fish.)

Now I'm once again getting paid to make with the science. A good time was had by all. I don't do IRB sanctioned human subject research anymore, but I do work with people (like on a team, but not ON a team). I also walk around my apartment pretending to be Godzilla sometimes, and enjoy the game "telephone", but I avoid the game "telephone tag". It's all very grown-up.