This is my biggest fear as I enter my 30s in a number of months. I've been programming professionally since I was 20 and for fun since 10 - I can't imagine having to do something else, it's what I was born to do. I'm still relatively young but I just got married and the long hours and complete commitment I used to wear as a badge of honor no longer seems appealing.
Am I going to be able to do this for the rest of my career? I honestly doubt it, but I have no idea what I would do instead. My father was a draftsman for years and made good money but the market for draftsmen completely dropped out and he spent the last fifteen years of his career unlocking doors at a school. I have such a strong desire to stay relevant but I can't spend nearly as much time studying as I used to even a year or two ago. Sigh.
Am I going to be able to do this for the rest of my career? I honestly doubt it, but I have no idea what I would do instead. My father was a draftsman for years and made good money but the market for draftsmen completely dropped out and he spent the last fifteen years of his career unlocking doors at a school. I have such a strong desire to stay relevant but I can't spend nearly as much time studying as I used to even a year or two ago. Sigh.