Michelle, do you own the patents for your software innovations, or does the company where you were working?
I've owned my own small side businesses; breeding exotic parrots and other birds, real-state investment company, private piano lessons, speed-reading, remedial reading/tutoring lessons, etc. I liked it.
I've taught English, writing, ESL part-time at KY community colleges, and was a substitute teacher when my kids were at home. I like teaching, but hated that I was only paid for teaching, which was a small fraction of the time spent posting lesson plans, information online for my students, grading research papers, commuting 45 minutes each way, etc.
I've spent the past seven years teaching ESL full time in Thailand. The pay is low, but living costs are ridiculously low.
I moved here because one of my university students was from Thailand and showed me photos of birds from there. I'm a fanatic bird and wildlife photographer, so moved here.
I put photos on a stock photo website for sale, but that's small change.
I've been a co-editor of a book, a free-lance journalist, illustrated a children's Creole language book, and since I was little I've been a designer/inventor. I use my own inventions and wear my own designs, and other people beg for them but so far I've felt too intimidated by patent paperwork/fees, licensing contracts, etc to do anything.
I have to leave Thailand now, anyway, for scary health reasons. I was supposed to have left last month, but paperwork hangups, etc.