To clarify: it was a project outside of my 9-5, which made it feel side-projecty. It was also something that was paid on a contract basis which made it 'somehat official'.

I negotiated almost 2.5 months to get this contract, which also made it feel real.

I may not be answering your question, but I'm sharing this so that others know that this is a possibility and also because I wanted to. :)