4 ms·

Option 1: Play the managerial game. It's soul crushing and the farther you get up the more concentrated sociopathy you will encounter, but it is the lowest ris

Option 1: Play the managerial game. It's soul crushing and the farther you get up the more concentrated sociopathy you will encounter, but it is the lowest risk/highest expected value path. Option 2: Startup. You will probably fail and this has far more to do with factors beyond your control than anything else, but you have a shot at being your own boss on your own term. Very low expected value, tons of stress, but potentially the best outcome. Option 3: Academia. Go back and get a PhD in something you love and teach. You will probably be an instructor, as tenured positions are rare and highly competitive. There is also a lot of nepotism and favoritism in the more subjective fields. Low reward (financially) but relatively low risk and lots of lifestyle benefits if you aren't materialistic. Option 4: Low cost lifestyle. Move to a low cost country and consult via online work. I don't have any experience with this option, so I don't know how risky it is. As a meta-observation, only option 1 makes any sense for someone wishing to form a family, which is psychotic.

xyzzy4 10y ago
Option 5: Buy a small plot of land in the wilderness and live in a trailer, cabin, or tent. Almost no bills or stress.
jhgjklj 10y ago
But finding a job as a manager is much harder than being a programmer. By the way this comment is very thoughtful and sad at the same time.
- softawre 10y ago
  Finding a job as a software engineering manager is actually pretty easy assuming you can still build software. At least it is in my experience. Most great engineers don't want to be a manager...
maxxxxx 10y ago
I am very interested in option 4 or 5. Any ideas for a good location?
- pimterry 10y ago
  Generally, http://nomadlist.com http://nomadlist.com is a good source for this question. Personally, for 4 I'd recommend Spain (Barcelona specifically) as a remote working location. Reasonably cheap cost of living, but European and not too cheap, so you still have fairly good common infrastructure, easily available fast internet etc. Plus there's loads of other expats, amazing weather & food, and Spanish is a useful, fun and relatively easy language to learn (as opposed to, say, Thai). And the Spanish lifestyle fits with the relaxed remote working lifestyle fantastically.
- xapata 10y ago
  Nearly every country has an expat neighborhood somewhere. Lonely Planet will probably have the info. There's a cost vs safety tradeoff. Figure out the risk/reward you're looking for.
amyjess 10y ago
Is it sad that none of those options appeal to me at all? I just want to be a 9-5 mid-level software engineer until the day I die.
- devsmt 10y ago
  maybe that's possible if you manage to stay current in a sane niche, frontend js is not, and build your own base of clients. it will be hard to allow for a consumeristic life-style.
  - amyjess 10y ago
    > maybe that's possible if you manage to stay current in a sane niche, frontend js is not Good thing my career has nothing to do with frontend js. Most of my background is in platform & infrastructure, and I'm currently in NMS... I'll be happy if I never touch web/social/mobile. I can see myself doing NMS for a telecom for many more years. > build your own base of clients That's incompatible with the idea of being a 9-5er working for a large company, which is specifically what I want to do for the rest of my life. > it will be hard to allow for a consumeristic life-style. Well, I'm currently living a pretty consumeristic lifestyle right now... I just want to keep sustaining it till I die.
    - carsongross 10y ago
      > I just want to keep sustaining it till I die. Do you? Will you?
- LVB 10y ago
  Ha I get this sentiment. My dad was a barber. He didn't love it, but it was just a stable part of life for 30+ years. It was a means to pay bills, and enjoyment came from elsewhere. I'm coming to the conclusion that while work can contribute to happiness, it can also siphon so much willpower that I've got nothing left for kids, other pursuits, etc.
  - xapata 10y ago

xyzzy4 10y ago

Option 5: Buy a small plot of land in the wilderness and live in a trailer, cabin, or tent. Almost no bills or stress.

jhgjklj 10y ago

But finding a job as a manager is much harder than being a programmer. By the way this comment is very thoughtful and sad at the same time.

softawre 10y ago
Finding a job as a software engineering manager is actually pretty easy assuming you can still build software. At least it is in my experience. Most great engineers don't want to be a manager...

maxxxxx 10y ago

I am very interested in option 4 or 5. Any ideas for a good location?

pimterry 10y ago
Generally, http://nomadlist.com http://nomadlist.com is a good source for this question. Personally, for 4 I'd recommend Spain (Barcelona specifically) as a remote working location. Reasonably cheap cost of living, but European and not too cheap, so you still have fairly good common infrastructure, easily available fast internet etc. Plus there's loads of other expats, amazing weather & food, and Spanish is a useful, fun and relatively easy language to learn (as opposed to, say, Thai). And the Spanish lifestyle fits with the relaxed remote working lifestyle fantastically.
xapata 10y ago
Nearly every country has an expat neighborhood somewhere. Lonely Planet will probably have the info. There's a cost vs safety tradeoff. Figure out the risk/reward you're looking for.

amyjess 10y ago

Is it sad that none of those options appeal to me at all? I just want to be a 9-5 mid-level software engineer until the day I die.

devsmt 10y ago
maybe that's possible if you manage to stay current in a sane niche, frontend js is not, and build your own base of clients. it will be hard to allow for a consumeristic life-style.
- amyjess 10y ago
  > maybe that's possible if you manage to stay current in a sane niche, frontend js is not Good thing my career has nothing to do with frontend js. Most of my background is in platform & infrastructure, and I'm currently in NMS... I'll be happy if I never touch web/social/mobile. I can see myself doing NMS for a telecom for many more years. > build your own base of clients That's incompatible with the idea of being a 9-5er working for a large company, which is specifically what I want to do for the rest of my life. > it will be hard to allow for a consumeristic life-style. Well, I'm currently living a pretty consumeristic lifestyle right now... I just want to keep sustaining it till I die.
  - carsongross 10y ago
    > I just want to keep sustaining it till I die. Do you? Will you?
LVB 10y ago
Ha I get this sentiment. My dad was a barber. He didn't love it, but it was just a stable part of life for 30+ years. It was a means to pay bills, and enjoyment came from elsewhere. I'm coming to the conclusion that while work can contribute to happiness, it can also siphon so much willpower that I've got nothing left for kids, other pursuits, etc.
- xapata 10y ago