[brucegodlesky]

Above all, be flexible.
I never liked being identified as being a ....(fill in the blank) If you want to be independent, be open to all sorts of related work. Neighbor needsa 12 tentpegs, pound 'em out. Another neighbor needs a sycle bar sharpened, go to it. Good day at the flea market? sell what ya find.
I keep a pile of blacksmith related equipment here, someone nees a vise, blower, anvil, etc, that extra $50-100 can pay abill. The results of helping new guys get eqippped is big time returns in a lot of cases.