All good points, some seemed laced with a bit of anger. If the criteria for judging is playing dollars and audience acceptance then most of the posts are right on.

My take:
1-Looking for jobs was a rarity, they just kept coming.

2-Practicing my arpeggios and scales was not a job, it was bringing to the point I wanted.

3-I excited when a new song came out; and just as anxious to play it in my style.

4-Always hated carrying the equipment in out.

5-I was not concerned about the competition, my cup was full. In N.Y. weekday gigs were rare; on the weekend we had three to four good paying jobs.

6-My last and most important -- I LOVE PLAYING MUSIC, EVEN IF THERE WERE NO DOLLARS OR PEOPLE.PLAYING IS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR ME.
If it came to supporting my family of six I made sure that I had another means to make that happen. I never wanted to have-to-play-a-job I did not like. My weekday job protected me from that. I truly love music and I did my best to protect that love.
Now at my age I look at my playing/performing dwindling career as one great blessing.

IMHO, John C.