Starving poets and artists have had similar struggles for many decades and centuries. Finding a suitable and comfortable balance is not easy at all. I agree that Substack is a more equable place and people on Substack encourage and support each other. I am fortunate that having worked for the UK government as a health worker and university academic and professional educator, I have paid into and now receive a satisfactory pension each month. Living in Thailand is not as cheap as it was 22 years ago but my money still goes further than it would in the UK. But financial considerations were not the only - let alone the main - motivators. I wanted to see more of the world. Asia is a charming and very different place to explore. I love my species in all its varieties and similarities.