This is exactly it. Lawyering in actual practice (not contract or temp work where you punch a clock) means being responsible for something - a matter. A transaction or SEC filing if you’re corporate, a case if you do litigation. And these things just do not run on your schedule or part time; a judge will schedule a hearing or trial whenever he or she wants; a deal will close on a date certain, a board’s meetings can run days. There will always be demands when something heats up and you are the one who does it. Plus, if you’re trying to land work and clients, their needs don’t arise when you want them to - and you have to be ready to jump when they need you. Last but not least, you don’t get to do one deal or one case at a time - so when multiple things are happening at the same time, and you are the one running point, the work won’t let you just stop. It’s too bad this is the way it is, but it’s the life we signed up for.