Sorry to hear that you had stroke in the past. As far as if I have done something like this - the answer is: no. I have worked in the same place for almost 24 years, before that three years at Fujitsu Consulting. But my wife she left her high profile corporate job (VP, General Manager, etc...) about two years ago and started a completely new business. It has been really challenging for her in this economy, but she hit and even exceeded every single goal she had. She is an unstoppable force though :) She did have a consulting business about 11 years ago, but this new venture is a completely different thing, everyone told her not to expect anything in the first three years, but she is actually bringing some profits in. She has no regrets despite her income being about one fifth of what she was making in corporate. The best thing is that she can spend more time with our daughter and doesn't have to travel anymore.
Glad to hear! I feel that there are fewer of them these days. I wish I was one :)
At the end of the day, all my family really needs is to be together, right?
That is right, if everyone is together, safe, happy and healthy that is pretty much all that is needed. The rest is just a bonus.