Thanks, Starfish. I think this does apply to me. Even though my husband makes a ton of $, I am uncomfortable still at "depending" on him. It is all me, he is happy with whatever I do. My whole life I have been very vocal about women not depending on men and I could have never considered not working when I was younger, even if we could have afforded it. Money is power, but no matter what career I change to, I am not going to make what I did last year (unless I go back to school, which I don't really want to do). I think that I am able to envision the freedom you describe a little better now, especially as we are planning our September vacation.
The tutoring I probably will do is private tutoring, not working for a place like Sylvan, which pay their teachers like $25.00 an hour. I can make $75-100 an hour tutoring kids in my home, so I was thinking of just getting maybe 5 students. That will be enough $ for me to put away for whatever I want and it will not overwhelm me with the preparation. I also have all of the materials to study for the ACE personal trainer exam, but some of the subject matter is overwhelming to me. I have put it off for a year, so maybe I will start. I was certified as a group exercise instructor, but I let that lapse. The personal trainer exam is much more in depth, as it should be, but I am not sure if I can learn this all in a home study course and one weekend review course.
Just talking about this with people on TE has put things in better perspective!