> Wow that imagery is powerfully sad

I didn't mean it to be ;) I'm an optimist at heart, honestly, and I'm not sitting here feeling I've wasted my life or anything. But there are some things I wouldn't do again if I had my time again, and working hard for unappreciative, self-centred people is one of them.

> working hard for unappreciative, self-centred people is one of them.

That's a bit of a luxury, you don't always have that choice but on the whole I agree with the idea. I'd re-phrase it to don't work for assholes if you can avoid it. I'm fortunate enough now that this is a rare occurrence but even now every now and then a deal goes by that is financially too sweet to let go and I still take them. Last year this happened once, the previous 3 years not at all. So unless you're totally secure in your finances keep that door open a crack.

It's interesting you say this, I currently have four weeks to run on a very well-paying contract which I chose to terminate. The money's been nice, and so are the people I work with, but I have enough in the bank now where I can take a chance on doing something different without risking financial hardship. Let's just say that, after two heart surgeries last year, I don't mind taking the risk that my plans fall over and I end up going back to an IT gig sometime in the indeterminate future :) In the meantime, I'm just enjoying the sense of possibility and freedom.

That's a reasonable middle ground. But it does show clearly that those 'annoying but high paying jobs' have a place in the armory.

Good to see you on this side of the line after two heart surgeries.

Great insight, thanks for sharing. Godspeed to you!