You absolutely did the right thing, Suzanne. One of my favorite quotes is by Balzac: “The secret of a great success for which you are at a loss to account is a crime that has never been found out, because it was properly executed.” My own version is this: “There is no limit to the wealth you can acquire if you abandon your principles.”

I’ve lived a relatively comfortable lifestyle, but I never wanted to be in the golden handcuffs. I don’t want multiple houses and employees to look after. I don’t want to have to worry about unscrupulous business managers draining my fortune. I definitely don’t want to be the target of scam artists.

The most important part of all this for me is that at the top of any game, you have to deal with some assholes who clawed their way up there. I feel life is too short to spend among people like that when there are so many more interesting, wise, kind, and fun folks in the world to get to know.

The cost of being surrounded by that oppressive atmosphere is too great. You’re the richer for having left that snake pit.