What's it like to self-publish a book?

Someone asked me what's it like to self publish a book and I have been thinking about it. This is the nearest I can get - It's like getting up the courage to walk naked down Oxford Street in London (UK) on a Saturday morning and then realising that nobody noticed or cared (or if they were British, they ignored you out of embarassment that you would do such a thing - the cheek of it!).
So be supportive, please, we have worked very hard to try and please you. Don't be mean because you spotted one typo. Just DM the author and they can correct it. We are human too.