"You've been self-employed the majority of your life, if I've read many of your comments correctly."

That is correct. I've never had what one would think of as a career job. Always did my own thing and fared better than most in the job scene even having to pay the 15.3% and matching the employee 7.5% and etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

The combination of the tax hassle and burden...having to deal with the godvernment man's regulations...having to deal with lackluster employees who had rather be doing anything besides work...being priced out of two businesses by importation of cheap illegal labor...all combined...drove me to the thought of making half the money in the world and being an island by trading...good thing I dug hard and deep when the digging was good. hahaha