Actually, it’s been 1 year and 1 week. I’m still Freelancing!
Hurray!
I’ve been fortunate to remain working in these tough times. For that I’m very thankful to my clients. And I’m still doing Ruby on Rails and PHP. I’ve even done a bit of C++.
The 2d Half
I have to say the back 6-months of my year wasn’t nearly as exciting as the front 6-months. It was mostly due to the fact I only had two main clients. For me having two concurrent clients is just right, stress and work-level-wise; not to mention the paperwork load. But I also stepped up my involvement the CVREG and now I’m main organizer. It’s been very exciting running the CVREG – but that’s another post.
Anything New?
I still have a lot to learn. Good thing I love learning. However I think the most important lesson I learned over my first year is: I love Freelancing. It’s still a lot of work; I haven’t automated as much as I want or need.
Dark Cloud?
Right now the only dark cloud in my silver lining is Medical Benefits. I’m looking at my options and not liking what I see. Wish me luck.
What Now?
So I’m going to persevere, improve my skills, and continue to create good work. Plus, if you need a top-notch developer for one of your projects, we should talk. 
Cheers!
Congrats on making it thru your first year as a freelancer!
Regarding healthcare:
In the Central VA area Anthem and United Healthcare seem to be the best option for freelancers/small businesses, and the two times I’ve gone through the whole quote-buy process, I’ve found Anthem to come out the better deal. Also, the online quoting tool is great and all, but you will get a better deal and a much better explanation of options if you call an Anthem rep directly.
On that vein, there is a little known option in Richmond for a freelancer/small bus. to get true group rates on health ins.: you can join the Retail Merchant’s Association and get in one of their groups with Anthem, pooled amongst their members, instead of being treated like an individual.
http://retailmerchants.com/insurance.asp
Talk to Jimmy Shelton there, he is very helpful, knowledgeable, and really knows “the system” on how to get you the best rate/coverage.
Lastly if you come across any options for NASE / Nat’l Association for the Self Employed and/or MEGA Health Insurance, stay away. While they may seem less expensive, they have a confusing ala carte system which can lead to confusion over what is covered by the time it is too late (Google around on some of the consumer advocacy sites for stories, and I know someone who has had personal experience with them too).
Best of luck with your continued success!
D’oh, I just read on the RMA page that “The medical coverage is available to members with two or more employees” – however I’d still suggest calling Jimmy Shelton there as he would probably know of any other good options and might even be able to work with you anyway. You can tell him that Chris from MemberPath referred you.