Paul Markham - The correct question is:
 

What can you do from right now going forward?

Not what should you have done in the past.

You don't get anywhere looking backwards. The road is in front of you. Yes, you are "retired" and have health issues but there are still plenty of different things you could do to make money in this biz if you truly wanted to.

Strictly imho of course.

.

I don't need not want to work again, main reasons are to sit at the computer all day would send me crazier than I am now. LOL

But you already spend all day at the computer....

sounds reasonable - but anyway I wish you all my best to not get any crazier.
world would not be such a strange place if you would learn to listen sometimes :-)

This is indeed the question

the review mirror is to look at yourself to see how cool you look going down the road - dl roth

Pretty sure Fonzie said it before David Lee Roth.

Looking back we all made mistakes.... We all took the money and thought it would never end.

I am stil making money. I still have a roof over my head. During the recession we lived off of savings and investments.

No complaints at all.

For most on GFY the idea that they will ever be able to comfortably retire is so absurd they can't believe anyone else can. Added to that that my main income came from producing content is even more unbelievable.

During the recession we lived off the content stores, paysites and sets we had shot for magazines. Deduct the cost of shooting new, running a studio and staff and it's 90% profit.

I'm not a fan of you, but that is just how I am :)

BUT --- !!! I belive you represent your generation of webmasters that did "OK" very well. You moved around inside your area of competence, and dident complain to much about it being everyone elses fault. You are happy, took actions when needed and made a life out of it...

... hats of to you! I wish you all the best and a long happy life

I think to a large degree.... I was very lucky. I got in at the right time.

Did you have a stroke, old man? :eek7

Heart attack and pneumonia at the same time. Spent two weeks in hospital.