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Same Stop: Life after 26 years as a programmer for Apple

engineersneedart.com

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Re: Same Stop: Life after 26 years as a programmer for Apple

#21

Post by jjxw »

pinewurst wrote: post #16
shubhamjain wrote: post #10

> The respite from programming though lasted maybe about four months after retiring. I started a small project , in part to learn Python, in part to play with e-ink displays. I was back programming (back abusing git) but of course the pressure was off. It both was and wasn’t like the day job I had left behind. This is one reasons I got disillusioned with FIRE and the concept of early retirement. Programming was my fi…

Speaking as someone planning to "retire" very soon, I don't like that word at all. I'm hardly planning to move to Florida for wife swapping and pickleball with the other oldsters. I'll be doing whatever suits my fancy, including software, albeit sans Jira and keeping GoogSoft suits happy with the proper newspeak.

100% agree. Does anyone know of a word that means "retirement" without the "not working" connotation? I'm in the same camp as someone who is aspiring to "retire early", but it will be more of a "work on whatever I want to" kind of retirement and not "move to Florida" type of retirement.

Re: Same Stop: Life after 26 years as a programmer for Apple

#22

Post by lazyasciiart »

jjxw wrote: post #21
pinewurst wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking as someone planning to "retire" very soon, I don't like that word at all. I'm hardly planning to move to Florida for wife swapping and pickleball with the other oldsters. I'll be doing whatever suits my fancy, including software, albeit sans Jira and keeping GoogSoft suits happy with the proper newspeak.

100% agree. Does anyone know of a word that means "retirement" without the "not working" connotation? I'm in the same camp as someone who is aspiring to "retire early", but it will be more of a "work on whatever I want to" kind of retirement and not "move to Florida" type of retirement.

"Independently wealthy"?

Re: Same Stop: Life after 26 years as a programmer for Apple

#23

Post by deepzn »

shubhamjain wrote: post #10

> The respite from programming though lasted maybe about four months after retiring. I started a small project , in part to learn Python, in part to play with e-ink displays. I was back programming (back abusing git) but of course the pressure was off. It both was and wasn’t like the day job I had left behind. This is one reasons I got disillusioned with FIRE and the concept of early retirement. Programming was my fi…

There are many interpretations and meanings of this Japanese phrase called Ikigai but in a basic sense it means "life purpose". Doing something you love, and getting better each day at it is one interpretation I really like. Many people in professions involving workmanship can attest to this.

This coming age of AI is really going to displace a lot of jobs, and make a lot of people unhappy- those who found meaning in their work. But, I feel we need to keep our joy of doing our work, and have that be the driving force, even if a computer can do something better. And this is what they say will be the "artisanal" things that will exist, and be popular to buy.

In the end, I think we just need to enjoy what we do. That's all this life is about.

Re: Same Stop: Life after 26 years as a programmer for Apple

#24

Post by deepzn »

I really enjoyed reading other posts from your blogs as well - https://www.engineersneedart.com/blog/interview/interview.ht...

I have bookmarked many tech blogs, but find it hard to get the time to read or catch up with them. There are so many interesting stories out there. I hope to collect as many cool stories throughout my life and career.

Re: Same Stop: Life after 26 years as a programmer for Apple

#25

Post by aeturnum »

For me, at least, programming is simply the most profitable articulation of an underlying personality trait that involves productivity, play, mischief, sardonicism and critique all together. This is what people mean when they point out that "hacking" isn't about software. The tantalizing just-out-of-reach articulation of a compelling concept. Satiating.

Re: Same Stop: Life after 26 years as a programmer for Apple

#26

Post by cyberferret »

I can totally relate. I started programming at around 18, writing games and utilities for DOS and other OSs at the time. I am 56 now and still actively writing code for my own SaaS.

I expect that when I eventually retire, I will end up writing code for Arduino devices and other things because it is what I truly love to do, and I never want to stop learning something new.

Re: Same Stop: Life after 26 years as a programmer for Apple

#27

Post by inconceivable »

SoftTalker wrote: post #19
shubhamjain wrote: post #10

> The respite from programming though lasted maybe about four months after retiring. I started a small project , in part to learn Python, in part to play with e-ink displays. I was back programming (back abusing git) but of course the pressure was off. It both was and wasn’t like the day job I had left behind. This is one reasons I got disillusioned with FIRE and the concept of early retirement. Programming was my fi…

I'm glad I found programming. I'm not sure I would have been very successful at anything else as a career. But the day I retire will be the last line of code I write. I'm planning to have as little involvement with computers as I can after that.

that's what i thought too (i had a decent exit and planned a career change) but it only lasted about a year.

Re: Same Stop: Life after 26 years as a programmer for Apple

#29

Post by nordsieck »

shubhamjain wrote: post #10

> The respite from programming though lasted maybe about four months after retiring. I started a small project , in part to learn Python, in part to play with e-ink displays. I was back programming (back abusing git) but of course the pressure was off. It both was and wasn’t like the day job I had left behind. This is one reasons I got disillusioned with FIRE and the concept of early retirement. Programming was my fi…

> This is one reasons I got disillusioned with FIRE and the concept of early retirement.

I think it's totally reasonable to be disillusioned with the "retire early" part of FIRE, but the "financial independence"? That part is golden for everyone.

Being financially independent means you're not scared of being laid off. It means you can walk away from bad bosses or bad companies. It means you can try out a startup if your heart tells you it's the one, but the money they're offering is too far below market.

Of course, getting there through austerity isn't for everyone. I get that. But quite a lot of people think the juice is worth the squeeze.

Re: Same Stop: Life after 26 years as a programmer for Apple

#30

Post by duxup »

shubhamjain wrote: post #10

> The respite from programming though lasted maybe about four months after retiring. I started a small project , in part to learn Python, in part to play with e-ink displays. I was back programming (back abusing git) but of course the pressure was off. It both was and wasn’t like the day job I had left behind. This is one reasons I got disillusioned with FIRE and the concept of early retirement. Programming was my fi…

> a small team with a good product vision and a strong shipping culture

I suspect one issue is that this kind of thing is more common in smaller organizations that haven’t evolved a bureaucracy.

The catch is that they also aren’t paying high salaries and just finding their way…

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