As one of the regular resident art/design geeks (speaking for myself) who posts here. I would like to address the issue of "money isn't everything."

Well, you know, of course, that it isn't "everything," but it sure matters a hell of a lot.

At 25, I had a ball being a broke bohemian hipster-doofus art student.

At 40, I take care of every precious penny, and I insist on charging handsomely for every minute of my professional time.

Why? Because without money, I have no freedom, creative or otherwise.

Money determines if I live in a nice part of town, or a crappy place where I have to deal with constant hassle and intrusion into my (valuable) private life.

Money determines what options I have for my (valuable) personal, non-work time. Can I afford a gym membership, music lessons, extra training, conferences, professional development, lunches with friends and colleagues, books to read, gifts for friends, trips just for fun, paying all the bills . . .

Money determines how much (very valuable) LIFE I can participate in. If I was still as broke as I was at 25, everything would now be pre-determined. Wedding in another city? Not going. Mother-daughter shopping/bonding trip? Can't go. Southern vacation as a break from brutal Canadian Winter? No. Pets? No. Broadway Play? No. My very favourite band of all time in concert? No. Local Symphony? No. Movie at Multiplex? No. DVD rental? Well, maybe . . .

Don't get me wrong–I don't need a million bucks, a big house or a fancy car. And I still appreciate the value of the Public Library and other high-quality, low-cost things. Most of all I know that the love of family and friends is wealth beyond measure.

But I also know that if I didn't have a reasonable amount of "disposable" money, many worthwhile things would be forever out of reach, and would remain so if I didn't have a career that brought me a decent income for my efforts.

Dear LW, you need money. Everyone needs money. Especially as they get older. I don't mean to add extra provocation to this discussion, but ESPECIALLY if you are a woman. Our generation will probably not get big inheritances that some of the baby boomers are in line for, and winning the lottery is a statistical impossibility, so you MUST plan for some way to take care of yourself throughout your entire life—which may be long indeed.

Money is not "bad" in itself, and earning an appropriate income for your time and expertise is not "selling out" as a lot of idealists might still believe. It is VALUING yourself and waht you do. Money is compensation for your time, skill and expertise, nothing more and nothing less.

If you have the smarts, drive and desire to succeed in a high paying field of any kind, you should use this to your advantage. Not everyone has these opportunities.

And don't get stuck thinking Law is the only answer—clearly it is not, especially in this economy. There are MANY high-paying fields out there in both the traditional professions AND the skilled trades. (But I will also add that not all are equal, so you must be informed about all the details.)

I think you need to take a look at what's really out there. Only then can you make a real decision about what is really the right career —and LIFE—for you.

. . . that there are some people you can't reveal certain things to.

I stopped "outing" myself about a certain medical treatment that I have to do, because I got scolded and lectured by friends and non-friends alike.

So now, no one but a very close few know about it, and the rest have no reason to ask or even suspect that I'm doing a specific medication regimen that keeps me healthy.

It is so frustrating that some people see it as their duty to "supervise" or (gag) "intervene" in other people's private affairs. (I have also noticed that those people tend to really, really enjoy serious drama, so that should tell you something about their real motives.)

LW, I am glad you have found a good doctor, and are finding some relief from your pain. I wish you the best on your journey back to full health.