How Long Does a Post Earn

After a month, I am still a minnow. But, from what I have read, it seems that voting and earnings are all focused on the first week or two after posting an article.

What happens to all of the great articles from over a month or even a year ago? I have yet to be able to pull up an old post. I know that a print media author can write something and receive earnings for years. Will that ever be true here?