Kind of sad to hear because good mechanics are hard to find.
However I feel your pain, worked in Dad's HVAC business for ten years, I knew I needed a change. Options were go back to school or get a contractors license... I could have made a LOT of money as a contractor... but couldn't bear the thought of dealing with customers/the trades/the building department. So now I have a great job but I live paycheck to paycheck.
Such is life.
Best of luck in your new endeavors.