I might be really off about what a steamfitter does but couldn't you make the transition to plumber and stay local? Become a master plumber. They make lots of money. I talked to someone from the Steamfitter's Union at our tech high school a couple of years ago and the pay is great. I can see where the travel would get very old. I wish my younger son would study plumbing but he wants to be a firefighter. He is not the type for an office job at all.

I changed careers about 10 years ago. I was a personal trainer, teacher and a coach. I love teaching/coaching and being a personal trainer, but the educational system started to head towards the shitter and lots funding was cut. I went back to school for a second Masters degree and have been working as a Forensic Scientist since. I started off as a Crime Scene Investigator and have moved into predominantly latent prints as a Certified Latent Print Examiner. I enjoy the work, but some of the people leave a lot to be desired.

I needed to see this today, about to go through a career change myself. It's nice to see other people's perspectives.

Was laid off July 8th from pharmaceutical co. that I worked for 32 years. Sent everything overseas. We had 5000 people. Liked the people I worked with, the job not so much but it paid very well. Bought me and my wife a couple of houses and all the toys a man could want. Now at 53 years old I'm looking into a career change. Got a job assembling backup batteries. It pays pretty good and only have to look forward to a few more years before retiring. Everyone I talk to from old job is doing good. There is life after current job. Don't fear a career change, just think it through first and weigh the pros and cons. Don't burn any bridges behind you because you never know who you'll be in contact with at new place. I'm seeing that now.

wow. 5,000 people!

india? china? haha

I am in IT and think about changing careers frequently. It seems like working in the field has ruined my love for technology. I have no idea what I would peruse outside of Information Technology. I have this half ass plan in my head to quit work, hike the Appalachian Trail, and then figure out life after that.

Ireland and Puerto Rico.

I've had thoughts like that myself. Smash my phone and walk. No way for anyone to track me. Wherever I end up whether it's in a good spot or dead on the side of the road so be it.

Technology is a crazy world.

I'm in enterprise app support. you?

Sometimes I think I want a primitive life like that.. but I feel like I'm to tangled up in the system to break away.. Maybe deep down I'm afraid of missing it

I work for a web hosting company. I support both Windows and Linux servers running things like Coldfusion, Tomcat, Apache, IIS, MySQL, MSSQL Server, etc.

What kind of applications do you support?

This is funny to me because I was working designing CRM systems for insurance companies when I more or less freaked out and had one too many hyperventilatingonthewaytowork-whatthe****amidoingwithmylife moments and skedaddled from that entire world. I went back to school and am working towards becoming a dentist.

this thread is enlightening and a breath of fresh air.

as a mid-20s employee at a large oil and gas products and services engineering company, did i say large? its yuuuuuge, during a market downturn i constantly am reminded that i haven't got a raise in 2.5years... and wondering if i am worth more why am i accepting the current status quo. And then i remember that i like my job, and i like my manager, and i am happy with where i am.

Mostly i would want to move career to get out of HTX. Anyone else move careers to get to a mroe desireable geographical location? Thoughts, Tips? etc?

Funny to see this thread. The wife and I just had a text exchange of selling the house, buying a Sportsmobile and driving to South America, figure it out once we get there. Guess we'd last longer if we just took the T4R, more funds right :-)

I just submitted an application for a professional firefighter position. It will be a $20k pay cut to start with, but after 21 years in engineering and 10 years with my current company, I'm prepared to deal with that. Time to try something I've always wanted to do and not let money control my mind.