Network Administrator - mostly the hardware end of the job. I've been fixing stuff all my life. Started with copiers (the days of liquid toners & zinc-coated paper), moved to printers & then mid-range & mainframe IBM's, DEC's, ***** (loved working on ***** - "whatta mean your **** is down. Don't worry, I'll get it back up again!"), Sun & other obscure crap no one remembers any more. Got laid off after 16 yrs. at my last company, found a small firm where my wide-ranging skills were needed & voila': Network Admin.!

And I LOVE my job! Great people & a great firm with mucho plenty of challenges every day. I'm not sitting around punching code or staring at a monitor day in & day out. Getting laid off or canned is the last thing I worry about. The pay won't make me a millionaire but at 55 yrs. old I'm comfortable, happy, needed & still have a blast. And that's worth something at ANY age & with any job.

If you don't like what you're doing for a living, change it. It makes no sense to work in a field or for a company that drives you crazy. Honestly, if this present job wasn't satisfying & I didn't have bills to pay I'd consider finding something in geology or history or heck, even building canoes would be cool. You'll be surprised just how long you'll live & how many years pass before you know it.

No matter how hard you try "things" will occur that, when you look back, seem almost inevitable: a girlfriend suddenly a wife, kids, house, parents passing away, friends coming & going, bills & more bills & somewhere in there a job or, at best, a career.

Since you're going to be spending at least 8 hrs. a day doing something it's best to do something that you enjoy!

Did I go to college: yup, but didn't finish. Neither my folks nor myself could continue to afford it. I was planning on being a meteorologist, que sera sera.

My dad gave me book when I was a teenager, darned if I can remember the author though Steinbeck comes to mind, where the main character is given some advice from his father: Marry a good woman; never get put in jail & never knowingly go insane.

The good woman will help balance you & carry you through the tough times.
Being exposed to jail puts you in the position of losing control of your life.
Letting yourself go crazy allows the real you to disappear.

Sounds silly, I know. Still great advice!