Gear and Workers, What are you doing?

I been just casually playing the game and it's something I'll keep doing, just a few hours a day doing whatever pops on my head, I've been AFK fishing for money but since the autoloop came out I've been training horses to attempt getting higher tier horses.

My yuri staff is already +15 but it's still green and my gear is +9~10, I was advise to keep it green until they release higher enchantment levels and then upgrade it? is that what people are doing? or does it not matter?

How about workers? I have every town/city connected and sort of was thinking to start hiring workers, but where should I start hiring workers at? what are you guys currently collecting and what for?

You guys have any long term plans?