bitflipperSelf-employment, man. I've spent over $6,000 so far this year on health care, even without any back surgery. There's also self-employment tax. Here in Washington State we've also got the Business and Occupation tax ($900 a year), high property taxes ($500 a month), sales tax that adds 9.5% to every tube of toothpaste (or 5 grand to a nice car). We pay to use parks. You can't even fish for your food, that costs more than a fish dinner at a restaurant, and you can only take home two fish anyway. Some of it's the price of not having a boss, an office or a commute. Some of it's the price of living in a desirable corner of the world (no snow, no hurricanes, no tornadoes, even thunderstorms are rare; no poisonous critters, clean air, lots of water and trees, and legal pot).
bitflipper...Creepy is the guy who wanted to sign me up for a religious cult and made a point of emphasizing they weren't the least bit into Kool-Aid, just mushrooms...