Well.. I've made that switch over a decade ago, and came back. Software pays better (or, a mediocre software dev like myself will do better than a mediocre carp

Well.. I've made that switch over a decade ago, and came back. Software pays better (or, a mediocre software dev like myself will do better than a mediocre carpenter like myself, because it's harder to see the mistakes I made). It turns out any passionate activity that you do as a job will tend to get the soul sucked out of it once you do it for money. Reality of having to make a profit means you work on what pays not what you want to work on, cut corners and make compromises. Doesn't take too long before you start feeling that. The very very few lucky among us (and I count myself in that group today) will stumble upon a situation where job and joy overlap -- and it has so much more to do with the people we work with rather than the subject matter. Seek out positions that give you autonomy of choice and creative freedom, having a playground (even if limited) helps a lot.