While Jordan Levey focused on law school and building her career, she assumed a “maternal instinct” would eventually kick in. Once she found a partner, she figured, they’d settle down and perhaps decide to have kids.

Now that she’s 35 and has been married for four years, Levey says she and her husband have realized they prefer their current lifestyle. They own a condo and are loving parents to their dog. And though they both earn a comfortable living, they’d rather spend their money on the things they love.

“We are really happy in our life. We love to travel, we love to cook, we both really value our alone time and that self-care,” she said. “I think we would be perfectly fine parents — I just don’t think we would enjoy it.”

For Sanders, not having kids allows her time to pursue all of her interests: writing, playing guitar, hiking, traveling and rescuing animals. It also means that she can focus more on her career, which for her is “the most important thing.”

“I definitely feel I probably wouldn’t be as far in my career as I am now and [I wouldn’t be] able to just live my normal life and pursue my hobbies and passions,” Sanders said. “I wouldn’t be living my fullest life.”