Quote - From Dodger:

I've noted that some people who used to be people I've considered friends have started being assholes to me, and I really don't know what it is. I've been told I changed. I did a lot of soul-searching, and ... look ... I'm sorry, but I can't see what all I do so differently now than I did then.

Everyone changes.  It's part of how we evolve and grow.  Change isn't a bad thing :)

Quote - But there's one thing. Now, if this is the reason, I think it's kind of sad, but hey, whatever. Right now I'm working a good job, and I don't need a heap of income. Sure, Poser income is nice, but it's not a vital necessity at the moment. So...

I've decided that for an indefinite time, any registered member at XFX3d.net is a subscriber. Thus the one thing I can see all that 'different' about me, the fact that I used to give away tonnes of free stuff and don't so much anymore...

If people are your friends only when you are buying them stuff or giving them stuff, then they weren't your friends to begin with.  Personally everyone could do without "friends" of that sort.

You can "buy" "friends", but they aren't true friends.  IMHO it's better to have true friends than just a bunch of people hanging around because you have something that they want.

Pick yourself up off of the floor, and hold your head high.  You and I don't know each other save for one chat, but you seem sound enough and decent enough to me.   You still have friends and you don't have to buy that friendship through giving away your store.

If you want to give free items away, do it because you want to, not because you feel obligated to or because people guilted or bullied you into doing it. 

Your store is your livlihood, regardless of whether you are sitting "sweet" financially or not.  You shouldn't give your store away.  If you want to give things away, give one or two items away, but not the whole thing :)  Just a bit of advice from me to you :)

"It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to say." - Ghandi