11–20 of 111 posts
Only problem was I made only barely enough to cover my expenses so wasn't getting ahead in life but it was still worth it.
Economically, my space is not in a good space right now. I have been considering going back to a "normal" job for a bit more income security.
Did paid OSS for 3 years, best years of my career. Great team mates, great code, everything done for a good reason, no managers, no politics, nothing. Only problem was I made only barely enough to cover my expenses so wasn't getting ahead in life but it was still worth it.
I can't take the hype cycle anymore. First it was big data this and big data that, now it's all AI. It's always about something other than crafting sensible solutions to real problems.
A breaking point for me was getting scolded to figure out how to apply LLM technology for a sewage utility contractor. Like, WTF.
I'm not too moral to take money for stuff people want but don't actually need. But it gets old. I'm tired. Now I can do little projects that I enjoy after work.
Maybe they'll go somewhere. Maybe they won't. They're not my real job anymore so it doesn't matter.
I did this just a few months ago. Worked in the Blockchain industry, earned around 240k in my local currency, which is a lot for what I did. The company got bought, would have gotten an additional 300k (more or less) after 2 years in bonus.
Instead, I joined a company more aligned with what I want to do and become, and the people I want to surround myself with. I now get paid just 140k in my local currency, so I take around 100k a year pay cut.
My wife will start working soon, so we will top up our household income again.
But, I realized, I don't have money problems. My needs are met, and what makes a difference now is my emotional and physical health, and my friends and people I see every day. Filling up my account doesn't help anymore, and the opposite, it made me more stressed every day.
Now I work part time for a small local Eastern European company started by my high school friends. We're around ten, I learn a lot, and I have potential for a lot of impact.
My real hourly take-home pay is 20% of what I used to make and I work less than half the hours, so I make less than 10% of what I used to make. And I'm happy with this trade-off! I get to work with very smart people on things that matter in a relaxed environment. Couldn't be happier!
Now I work for my county government as a computer programmer. I make 20% of what I would've been making at Facebook if I hadn't left (60k vs 300k) but I don't regret it at all. My work helps real people in my community instead of siphoning off bits of attention here and there from strangers all over the world.