It is that bad. Last year was the "ride it our year". This year has seen no improvement and in fact it is worse. I've been talkng to a ton of people, gc's and ec's, it is dead here. There is just no work and what work there is pays crap. You've all seen everybody posting bid results.
I'm about to turn 40 and I am far worse off than I was at 30. I've got 18 years of self employment behind me, most pretty succesful, but the last year and a half has essentialy left me just about broke. I am just about to start using my "emergency" money that I have been saving for years. The road I am on is leading me into a situation where if I were to continue I will spend the rest of my life digging out.
So, it's time. I've always known that sooner or later I wouldn't be able to work like I do now as I got older and it would be tougher to compete with the younger guys and that I didn't really want to do this forever. I didn't think it would be this soon but it is what it is.
I am not really that bummed about it. The thought of showing up to work in a heated/air conditoned clean space and just working my hours has some serious appeal after 18 years of more or less "always" working. That and a paycheck I can count on coupled with some sidework, I can forsee a decent furture.
Thanks for the replies guys.