What job after a Mac career?

I wonder, is there a job ideally suited for burned-out Mac admin/DTP
guys who spent 20 years battling undocumented Mac bugs in the first
trench?

It's time to change a career when one doesn't give a damn about the
latest innovation anymore instead of being excited by it. I must
admit, after 20 years I have reached that low point, sadly. I keep
daydreaming about a job that's low on error messages, something I
don't have to relearn every 2 years. I guess I burned out.

So... Is there a consensus, what's the best "next job" for veteran
computer wizards with deductive skills sharpened to the wazoo and the
ability to fully track and control 40 simultaneous processes? Should I
start to train for a B747 pilot or airport radar operator at the age
of 40?

Geo wrote:

> So... Is there a consensus, what's the best "next job" for veteran
> computer wizards with deductive skills sharpened to the wazoo

Become a consultant, and offer to hand-hold new OS X users,
mainly windopes who decide to switch. But you'll still have to
re-learn everything every year 8-(~

Geo wrote:
> I wonder, is there a job ideally suited for burned-out Mac admin/DTP
> guys who spent 20 years battling undocumented Mac bugs in the first
> trench?

I am approximately in your shoes (same age, Solaris admin/Finite
Element Analysis since late 80s) and am working on a plan with a
few others to buy some land, grow our own food, run a retreat or
something and generally chill out.

> It's time to change a career when one doesn't give a damn about the
> latest innovation anymore instead of being excited by it. I must
> admit, after 20 years I have reached that low point, sadly. I keep
> daydreaming about a job that's low on error messages, something I
> don't have to relearn every 2 years. I guess I burned out.

I often feel on the verge of burning out. I sometimes spend seriously
unhealthy periods of time on the net and it all seems so important
that I can't possibly waste time relaxing, there all these usenet
posts which I simply *must* respond to.

> So... Is there a consensus, what's the best "next job" for veteran
> computer wizards with deductive skills sharpened to the wazoo and the
> ability to fully track and control 40 simultaneous processes? Should I
> start to train for a B747 pilot or airport radar operator at the age
> of 40?

You have got to ask yourself why you have stuck it out so long. You
may be addicted to being in the burnout zone. That is not necessarily
a bad thing - specially if you think you are achieving something of
value, be it financial reward or whatever. But could there be a better
state? I am starting to think it is time to let the youngsters take
over the geeky stuff.

--
Ian Gregory
http://www.zenatode.org.uk/ian/

In article <mrdelurk->,
Geo <> wrote:

> So... Is there a consensus, what's the best "next job" for veteran
> computer wizards with deductive skills sharpened to the wazoo and the
> ability to fully track and control 40 simultaneous processes? Should I
> start to train for a B747 pilot or airport radar operator at the age
> of 40?

If you find out, please let us know. The other system managers out here
are interested. At least, I am.

I used to know a woman who became a masusse afterwards.

--
Your prison is walking through this world all alone.

In article <40edde4e$0$20523$>,
Ian Gregory <> wrote:

> You have got to ask yourself why you have stuck it out so long. You
> may be addicted to being in the burnout zone. That is not necessarily
> a bad thing - specially if you think you are achieving something of
> value, be it financial reward or whatever. But could there be a better
> state? I am starting to think it is time to let the youngsters take
> over the geeky stuff.

That means.... management. nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

--
Your prison is walking through this world all alone.

Geo wrote:
> So... Is there a consensus, what's the best "next job" for veteran
> computer wizards with deductive skills sharpened to the wazoo and the
> ability to fully track and control 40 simultaneous processes? Should I
> start to train for a B747 pilot or airport radar operator at the age

I'm training for Spanish teacher at the age of 50.
How about it--do you think you can fully track and
control 25-30 simultaneous adolescents?

Or any other age group in some other subject?

:-)

--
Wes Groleau

A UNIX signature isn't a return address, it's the ASCII equivalent
of a black velvet clown painting. It's a rectangle of carets
surrounding a quote from a literary giant of weeniedom like
Heinlein or Dr. Who.
-- Chris Maeda

Ha, ha, Dr. ..... Who's Chris Maeda?
-- Wes Groleau

In article
<2004070906450516807%exceptionsTakeThisOutDude@ear thlinknet>,
Mikey <> wrote:

> I recommmend retraining immediately, so that you can be finished by the
> time your $$ is drained. I didn't because I figured I'd find another
> Mac job somehwere.

Do you *like* Hospitality? Happiness can be more important than money.
Make manager or whatever, or buy your own hotel, and make a mint?

--
Your prison is walking through this world all alone.

In article <mrdelurk->,
Geo <> wrote:

> So... Is there a consensus, what's the best "next job" for veteran
> computer wizards with deductive skills sharpened to the wazoo and the
> ability to fully track and control 40 simultaneous processes? Should I
> start to train for a B747 pilot or airport radar operator at the age
> of 40?

I'm on the airline career track right now, and believe me, you'll wish
you'd stuck to computers when you realize how unstable a career move it
is. May I suggest something *outside* aerospace. <grin>

--
Garner R. Miller
Manchester, CT =USA=

In article <mrdelurk->,
Geo <> wrote:

> I wonder, is there a job ideally suited for burned-out Mac admin/DTP
> guys who spent 20 years battling undocumented Mac bugs in the first
> trench?
>
> It's time to change a career when one doesn't give a damn about the
> latest innovation anymore instead of being excited by it. I must
> admit, after 20 years I have reached that low point, sadly. I keep
> daydreaming about a job that's low on error messages, something I
> don't have to relearn every 2 years. I guess I burned out.
>
> So... Is there a consensus, what's the best "next job" for veteran
> computer wizards with deductive skills sharpened to the wazoo and the
> ability to fully track and control 40 simultaneous processes? Should I
> start to train for a B747 pilot or airport radar operator at the age
> of 40?

If there are no shops in town or your area of a big city--consider
starting a mac related store. You could buy and sell older macs or even
sell some new macs.
However, most of your money would be made in the repair of macs. One local
man done that and he had contracts with several businesses that had macs
on a network. Those businesses paid him for being their network
administrator or whatever the newest term happens to be. He told me the
only thing he hated was that he had to work on computers that ran Windows.
He recently retired.

--
NEWSGROUP SUBSCRIBERS MOTTO
We respect those subscribers that ask for advice or provide advice.
We do NOT respect the subscribers that enjoy criticizing people.

In article <mrdelurk->,
Geo <> wrote:
>I wonder, is there a job ideally suited for burned-out Mac admin/DTP
>guys who spent 20 years battling undocumented Mac bugs in the first
>trench?

Wal*Mart greeter.