I had a similar situation as yourself about 8 years ago and ill try to make this short. I was racing every weekend living at my moms working on the car in her two car garage and basically working to race with not a lot of other responsibility or money to say the least. I came to a cross roads (crashed three weekends in a row and blew up an engine) to which I continue down this path living the dream or sell off my racing operation and invest in making something of myself. I chose to sell off what I had and invest in my small welding business at the time. Its been 8 years now. My business has grown tremendously, I have a family but most of all I am in a position in which I can race when ever I want. Over the last years i have watched every non wing race the internet has to offer, lost friends from not being at the track, yet the desire is there every second of every day. I am happy with my decision because this year will be the year i will get back in the seat. Not much has changed..... race cars do not run off methanol they run off cash. Ive learned that racing will always be there. its been an agonizing few years but my goal was to be in a position to go to the race track to have fun and not to worry about nickle and diming every little thing because i really couldnt afford to be there in the first place or the stress of asking people for "sponsorship" aka money so i can race. When I made that decision, the biggest thing I was worried about was if i continued racing what happens in a few years if nothing has panned out ie a well paying ride that i can support a family and have a retirement ( for me i knew deep down that i wasnt the top 1 % that would get that opportunity), what would i have to show for those years other than a great experience? I chose the safe route, making something of myself so I can do everything: provide for my family at a top notch level, have a means of retirement, and race when ever i damn well choose without someone telling me I cant. Im at that stage now, it was tough in the beginning and through the middle but the light at the end of the tunnel was always there. However everyone looks at situations a bit different, good luck with your decision, its a big one!