Note: percentages may not add up to 100% because some respondents may have checked "not applicable" or didn't answer the question:

• Two thirds of you now earn less than in your former careers. 56% have no problem meeting needs, and a third can even afford some luxuries. Only one in ten say that earnings are inadequate to supply essential needs.

• Despite the downshifting, two thirds of you report that your standard of living is as good as it was before. Only 20% are experiencing a lower standard of living, most in single-earner households.

• About 40% needed the financial help of their spouse or partner to meet household expenses. However, nearly 75% of that group also needed such contributions in their prior career.

• How comfortable are we with downshifting? Only 7% of us said they were uncomfortable, a third were somewhat comfortable, and 44% said they were fully comfortable with their tradeoffs.

• How did the children still living at home react? Seven out of ten supported their parent's career move. Fewer than 10% described their kids as being uncomfortable with downshifting. Conversely, only 15% reported that their kids were entirely comfortable with the tradeoffs made. That big 75% in the middle are the children who were "somewhat" okay with the adjustment they had to make. As Sue M. told us, "My children? Well, they're teenagers. They loved having great vacations and new clothes. They enjoyed some of the choices we were able to make as a family, and I suspect that they are frustrated that today's choices are simpler. But they don't complain."