The hammer drops at my shop

With the newspaper freelance market just about dried up, like everything else, I intereviewd for a suburban sports job recently. Because of my "tremendous experience, etc.," I was offered the princely sum of $11/hr. but only after the editor had to go to bat for me with the publisher "because we never pay anybody that much to start." Of course, I could look forward to no raises, no retirement benefits and a far-worse health plan (and signifcantly less pay) than my wife gets as a door-greeter at Costco. I just couldn't accept the fact that after 20-plus years in the business, that's all I'm worth. Pretty humbling and frustrating.
BTW, they're still looking so if anybody wants details, PM me.
As for me, I'm doing better with a jeep-tour business for which I'm a driver. Less stress, far better pay and it's pretty damn fun.