Harold, I feel both your pains and your pleasures. I've been doing the independent thing off and on (mostly on) for the past 10 years and it's still a decision that I question at times, especially in the slow months.

As an introvert, I definitely have a hard time with the whole networking thing and probably have an over-reliance on word of mouth to sell my services. Part of my personal problem is "Renaissance Woman" syndrome where I'm interested in and able to do a number of different, un-related things, which sometimes makes it difficult to sell myself. People want to put you in a box and if you don't fit into that box, they aren't quite sure what to do with you. However, I love what I do and the freedom to do it, so I persist.

Anyway--I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. Here's to your next four year and beyond!