Posted by Mr Beev on January 22, 2003, at 14:39:10
In reply to Midlife Career Change, posted by Tabitha on January 22, 2003, at 4:01:52
I have made such a change. I, too, was a computer programmer; I, too, returned to university at midlife. My new "career", if one may call it that, is philosophy.
Why philosophy? I hear that's, uh, where the big money is... I have been at it for over ten years, and have no regrets whatsoever.
Naturally, my income is a minute fraction of what it was; however, one need not topple over at a diminuition in one's standard of living. A trip to, say, Calcutta helps to remind us in the West of just how fortunate we are in our living standards, among other things.
The key to my success, insofar as one could call it that, is as simple as it is peculiarly difficult, or so it seemed to me, and may summarized as (1) reduction: substantially shrink expenditures; (2) discipline: make the decision, stick to it; (3) continuity: keep in touch with prior profession as something to fall back upon.
Recommended reading by Juliet Schor:
"The Overworked American"
"The Overspent American"Best regards,
Mr Beev
poster:Mr Beev
thread:35659
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030120/msgs/35682.html