I think pursuing your passion is definitely key to being happy in life but as you know Jason had the right skills at the right time in a marketplace that was just starting to spread it's wings. I think you should consider offering WordPress services to clients while you are growing WPTavern. You have more than enough experience to do so and it could immediately replace the revenue from your job. Once WPTavern achieves your goals, you could back off on the client work. Offering WP services and writing about WP would seem more synergistic than working your current job IMO.

Best of luck in whatever you do.