A fellow abstractor mentioned that I must have a lot of work to do with all those hours I work, so I wanted to clarify.

I am scraping by.  The reason I work all those hours, is a conversation I had with a client.  They sent me a current owner at 10:15 P.M.  on a Monday evening.  I turned it back in by 9:00. A.M. on Tuesday morning.  The client wanted to know why it took me longer than 3 hours to turn it in. They fully expected it back in their office by 1:15 A.M.  They actually stopped sending me work for this reason. They told me, the reason they are now giving the orders to another abstractor, is that the other abstractor provides 3 hour turn time, no matter what time of day or night they receive the order.  The client works 8:00 to 5:00, hm.

So, because I cant afford to lose any work, I make myself available. It's frustrating to me that I really enjoy doing title searches, I really like research type work, knowing I have to give it up because I cant work 24 hours day or make a salary that is almost less than minimum wage (based on all the hours).  I'm struggling with coming to grips that I'm going to have leave what I enjoy doing, for a job I don't enjoy just to pay the bills.

I wasn't bragging, or looking for sympathy. I was angry and frustrated. I was just pushed over the edge yesterday morning and had to vent.  The industry has changed more than I care to have to work with, and I don't see it improving for abstractors.