>>>>I start my new work gig out of state next Monday and won't be on here much, if at all. It's just as well, isn't it?
>>>
>>>Good luck on your new job.
>>>
>>>There probably is no such thing as a "geographic solution" to one's problems. But maybe you can Mike a solution.
>>
>>Well, that's not why I am taking the out of state job. In fact it will be more of a challenge to stay sober off by myself in some temporary living arrangement. Simply put, I need the money and have not been able to find work around here. You know as well as anyone how little VFP work there is. And I have had no luck finding .NET work. It's tough to make a transition any time and in this economy, when companies say they want A, B, C, and D, they mean it. There are a lot of openings but they all seem to want at least 3 years of experience in the particular .NET language.
>>
>>One thing that should help is that there are other out of town contractors working there. In fact a regular here may be joining me. That decision is supposed to be made soon.
>
>Mike, out of curiousity, have you pursued any project management or analyst positions? I've worked with project managers that didn't know anything about .NET and I almost preferred that because they stayed out of my biznass and they brought different ideas to the table from other technologies.

Not really. I was a project manager (usually hands on) through most of the 1980s and did not enjoy it nearly as much as developing. Never say never, although they might wonder why I haven't done it in 17 years....

Someone was telling me not long ago I should consider COBOL if things get desperate enough. He said there are still COBOL systems running out there and it's hard for companies to find experienced developers. So many have either moved on or retired. PLEASE don't let it come to that ;-)