I'm on the downside of a career I have mostly enjoyed since I started working part-time in college. In the early years of working for someone else, the two job changes in my career were both advancements, even though I was still working for someone else. I was able to buy my business while in my early 40s and sold it five years ago, at age 56. Now, I'm a partner in a multi-operational business with a long time friend that also started his career at the same place I did when we got out of college. I work a part-time, full time job and have the flexibility to do my own thing all the time. Best of both worlds without too many challenges. Full retirement is probably a couple of years away. The thing is, I'm not sure I want to stop because what I'm doing now is almost perfect for me.
Working for someone showed me a lot of the worst aspects of my profession. While I never prayed about having to go to work, I said a lot of prayers due to the mental and physical toll it took on me at times. Now, being on my own, I have a lot of respect for most of our employees, because I've been there and they know it. It's a mutual respect and we work together quite well. There are two gold brickers there that I have little tolerance for that won't be around much longer, as soon as their replacements are ready to start (within the next two months).
My wife has worked both full and part time with me, running the day to day things. After she had about 3 months on the job initially, which due to our business, was a toll taker on everyone there for a lot of reasons, she readily admitted (and still does today} "now I know why you drink".
I've been fortunate and very blessed. It's sad to know that not everyone can have the luxury of saying that.