I applaud you for writing this story. It is sooo important for people to realize that there is a difference between being a freelancer and creating a business. Often it is seen as the same thing. IN a sense you are showing that training time for money outside a system that is accepting the cost and calculates it into its overall pricing might allow you to charge a little more per hour for all the risks you are taking on. On the flip side if the freelancing does not become a springboard to a real business your story probably is much more common that a lot of people think (minus the drugs and alcohol). The article is almost a year old. I would love to read a follow-up describing how it is to be back in employment and living thru the troubles we are all in. I am very glad I have my business in these times.