Well that works for some who are close enough to town to get a job or two. Many don’t have that option. It is living on the edge more than you think for many, ranches are demanding so side careers suffer- meaning when ranchers and their wives get jobs they are usually not high paying jobs.
To be honest it is day to day for many, my dad went broke after a long drought, my mother raised chickens and sold eggs as his backup until the government regulated her out of business. He ended up working for other ranchers because he loved it, the pay is truly not great. Even the backup or fallback or what ever you call it is usually not that stable. Ranching is the priority, but no rancher is dumb enough to just starve to death instead of getting a job or his wife getting a job. Not sure what you are getting at with your comments? What do other business owners do if their business fails? What do you want ranchers to do when things are tough- go on welfare? Not sure why so many are so snide about ranchers, but hope it makes you all feel better when ranchers face tragedy and hard times.
I'm not going ANYWHERE bad with the comments. It's a tough life you chose. You LOVE it and that's enough for you. You are lucky to be doing something you love. It has its risks but they are obviously worth it.
I don't recall being snide about ranchers. So, you HOPE tragedy and hard times for the ranchers makes me feel better? Well, talk about snide. Lol. Did I hit a nerve? Sorry! But, never mind. You must be having a hard time THESE days and aren't up to FReeper comments. No problem. Whine away. We all try to develop thick skins.
By the way, people who experience failed businesses CHANGE their business to something more safe, reliable, dependable, whatever.
It has been made CRYSTAL CLEAR to me about the risk of ranching. But, it's what you chose so ENJOY.
And don't forget to book a week in some place WARM for the coldest part of winter. That would be January and February. Better make it two weeks.