Brian,
I made it 12 years, the depression of 90 stuff got so slow, and I watched people take jobs for what I had in materials, I figured it was time to go. I took a gummint job for 7 years, and became an inspector for engineering firms a little over 3 years ago.
I gotta say, I liked the gummint job. After 12 years self employment 12-16 hour days, and 6 years as superintendent prior to that I found I really liked 8 hour days. It was real nice to be able to just go do something and let someone else worry about payroll, insurance, taxes, bids, etc., you know the drill.
I know it's a big change man, but believe me, you can learn to enjoy it.
take care
