Too real but I spent the first 15 making low wages and the last 10 making about the same as you.

Got kicked out the door with others due to cost (first time in 25 years) and get interviews but it has been a difficult time finding another place.

I'm working on my own thing with a few people that also have some runway and I really hope it goes well because the job market sucks and I'm sick of being on this wheel. It won't be because we aren't trying. That's for sure. We don't even care about doing well. We just looked at, what can we get away with and cover expenses without pissing off our wives too much. That's it. That's the whole goal. Not a single turtleneck among us. I don't even care if one of them goes crazy, screws me and takes the lion's share so long as I don't have to go back on the wheel.

Even if this half worked and I took a grocery store or security guard gig pt to make up the difference, that would still be preferable.

But I have big fear about finding myself in a call center again and that was a lifetime ago. I'd rather starve to death.