Don,

I gotta agree with you. I'm living in Louisiana by choice - Sulphur/Lake Charles area, far from N'awlins (New Orleans).

I enjoy an income that is much better than average for salespeople in my area. The salespeople doing better then me in the local area are either selling hi-tech and hi-$$ to chemical plants or hospitals, or selling life insurance. Gimme the gun if I have to earn a living selling life insurance. I'll let someone else have that market.

I enjoy what I do, selling promotional advertising to a wide rang eof business, industry, and gov't agencies who HAVE to order my products. They can get them from someone else, but they have to buy these items. I can earn an excellent income without having to sell anything, just help them buy the things they need.

We have two grown sons living in the local area, and one granddaughter. Our daughter and her family (including our only grandson) live in the Houston metro area, just over 2 hours away. Living in Houston is not an option for us, by our own choice.

So, our locale is our choice for our reasons - great food, wonderful people, friendly, laid-back atmosphere, and close enough for me to drive over and call on some Houston clients for some extra business on top of the great business we have built in SW Louisiana.

As for #2 above, not being dependent on gov't or waiting to find a pink slip in the pay envelope - just makes life more enjoyable. Is this business/self-employment lifestyle, certainly not. But, if I didn't sell promotional advertising, I'd have to get a job and go to work for a living.

Dennis Bevers
BASSCO, Inc..