Old contractors.

[Jeebo72]

The majority of “old” contractors that I have worked with have made their fortune and lost it all in a divorce.

Had the divorce at 28, so got that out the way ... for now

[expat]

When I was young i was interested in new technologies: the latest computer, gadget yadda yadda. Now I couldn't give a toss. I've mastered my particular niche; keep up to date in that area, but through professional necessity rather than youthful interest and inquisitiveness. I can’t be @rsed with iPods and iPads etc anymore... so when data warehousing dies out, I die with it in a professional capacity... and quite gladly. Now of course I’m in senior roles that have transferable skills but do I really want to manage 25 your old geeks at 60? Nah.

I didn't say I want to be doing it at 60, only that I will be.

I'm not doing it because I'm interested in it, only because I need to work, it pays, and I seem to be good at it.

I'd go as far as to say that PCs have ruined it for me: in ancient times the computer was in a room bigger than my house, so I didn't expect it to intersect with my real life. I'd code, then go home. After microcomputers came along, I started expecting to mix up work and private life. The result was mostly a severe reduction in non-computer time in my private life, and a lingering feeling that work should interesting, but with a few exceptions it has not been.

But I am good at it, and it does pay. So here I stay.

As for financial independence, write some children and a divorce into the gameplan and see what happens.

Edit: I see you did. Oh well, it's different for different people. Have it young and it may cost you less.

[Jeebo72]

I didn't say I want to be doing it at 60, only that I will be.

I'm not doing it because I'm interested in it, only because I need to work, it pays, and I seem to be good at it.

.

I suspect that's for most of us ... but your peer group must be very young. How do you cope? I just can't see myself dealing with it at that point...

[expat]

I suspect that's for most of us ... but your peer group must be very young. How do you cope? I just can't see myself dealing with it at that point...

I have no peers that I know of

You mean the guys that I work beside? Most are younger than me, I suppose. Many are probably quite a bit younger than me. A few are older. Can't say it's much of a deal.

Edit: actually my comment probably says more about it than the second comment, i.e. I am not trying to fit into a peer group (= age cohort) here, so age-related problems of fit do not arise. As for technical fit, I can wipe the floor with them, especially on diffcult bugs, because I've seen most of them and probably invented some of them.

[aussielong]

I suspect that's for most of us ... but your peer group must be very young. How do you cope? I just can't see myself dealing with it at that point...

I have this problem too. I'm late 30's and the oldest programmer by probably 10 years in my team. I'm also a specialist in a niche IB skill so I'm hoping that will give me 5 years work and then i'm going to do something more spiritually rewarding. Escape the crushing grind.

IT is alright when you're in your 20's because it pays well and can fund a good lifestyle. In your 30's when interest in the nightlife is not there, working in IT is just soul destroying.

[alreadypacked]

I'm pretty much close to having enough dividends a year through shares (yes I know), to make a salary. I have no debt at all and a house + investment flat with no mortgage, so I'm on track. As for my time I have travel, golf and beer lined up, for the last 15 years....

I travel most winters and have met expats in each location, many have 'retired early'.

Some of them have forgotten about everything else and just drink.
Many of the rest have forgotten nothing and moan about it all the time.

The expats I found the best to be around were still doing something, back to the UK to work for the summer or working locally as volunteers.

So before you give up the day job, have a look at those who have, and see if that's really what you want.

HTH

[Jeebo72]

Edit: I see you did. Oh well, it's different for different people. Have it young and it may cost you less.

Now there's potential for a second ... and that would prob do it!

[Churchill]

I'm working to put our kids through University.

They'll find me dead at a keyboard.

[expat]

Now there's potential for a second ... and that would prob do it!

Mine was quite late. So, callously, I could say that more of my lifetime wealth was involved in it. Less callously, I was as concerned for my wife's future as ever (I just didn't want to be married to her in it), so there was no question of trying to maximise how much I held on to, that just wasn't the driving factor. I was trying to get us both out of it with a life. At least the right amount went to lawyers.

[MarillionFan]

I'm pretty much close to having enough dividends a year through shares (yes I know), to make a salary. I have no debt at all and a house + investment flat with no mortgage, so I'm on track. As for my time I have travel, golf and beer lined up, for the last 15 years....

Well done. Most of us got to that point.

Then come the women, the inlaws, the kids, the family car, the costs!!!!!!!

Argahhhhhhhh!!!!