I agree with Banjiman on this one. Of course its easier for us in England - after World War 2 - every shade of government agreed there would be a national health service. We pay huge taxes - one American assured me there would be armed insurrection if Americans had to pay what we did for a litre of petrol. But you would be on a list and waiting for your cataract operation - no quibble, over here.

All that said - in England. You can usually earn a living as a musician and or/performer - but you have to be VERY flexible. My own career has encompassed teaching guitar, having a hit record, playing miners welfare clubs (then Thatcher closed all the mines and with them the clubs!), Irish theme bars (then the fashion for them went cold), old people's homes (firstly working to a script with backing tracks) , an instore Father Christmas, being a film extra, running a recording studio, thousands of iffy pub gigs - all stuff that makes use of your nerve , skill and sinew as a performer/musician. I tried busking, but I was rubbish at it. Talk to other buskers - there are hints tips and wrinkles to every profession.

Try to think divergently, and don't say - oh i don't do THAT! Some of my best years as a musician came doing stuff that i had previously despised and discounted through my ignorance and predjudice. Your poverty can force you learn more about the nature of real folk music.

The saddest cases on Mudcat are those imprisoned by the narrowness of their vision and the unshakeable belief in their correctness.

Above all - don't sell your instruments until you have a clear idea of what path you're going to have a shot at making you career take. You will need to finance the next chapter somehow. In future years and in times as yet undreamed of, you will regret selling your beautiful instruments ( almost always at a fraction of what they're worth)to make the next step forward. Still - they're not museum pieces - they are the assets of your working business. use them wisely!