This is not meant to be rude, patronizing, or insulting. I hope you do not, either of you, take it this way.
There is an answer to your problem that you missed. And you missed it because you like giving service, to nurturing and helping others.
You were not asking for the pay you deserve.
But this I mean that you, and a great many people in fact, try to set their prices "fairly." They look at the market, likely trying to set a middle range for their prices, or lower.
The fact is, and it will always be, that good artist, good artisans, good teachers are not being paid adequately until their price has reached the point that their number of students drop because of being unable to afford them.
How do I know this?
I have not only counseled others on business decisions (consulting) in various industries, but I have suffered exactly the same syndrome myself.
My own prices for teaching are too high for my area, and thus I rarely have students. Of course I don't make enough to live on, but I most certainly DO have time for my horses, and any special students I wish to tutor.
I once was teaching up to 75 or more students per week. Children, adults, young people in highly competitive riding. And one day I collapsed. Because I was also running the 150 horse barn I was teaching in, running two riding goods stores, and supervising a staff, 7 days a week, 14 to 16 hours a day.
I left it all, and learned my lesson, and spent an idyllic year with my wonderful quarter horse and a little herd of mares and their foals. And oddly enough, at about the same pay as when I nearly killed myself with overwork.
If that is what YOU are doing, stop. You have PAID YOUR DUES ALREADY.
Josepha, I cannot wait for you to move to warm country where Ralph will be more comfortable, Where you will have time for yourself and your horses, and only enough students to make YOU feel good about your work. And where you can take time to write, and dream, and expand out into your world further.
Please don't make it too long. Please. Soon?
Donald, who also hopes, but does not put on pressure (much), that you will be able to take time to travel, and that your destination at some time will be where I can meet you and Ralph. I have a guest room waiting.