>>> If you are not near retirement age you may not get my message. You may not care. You can say what you like as you have your reality and I have mine. I would suggest I am closer to my reality then you are. :) <<
>
>Of course. But it's clear that the main difference in realities, as you have stated yourself, is geographical. You are at the epicenter of the so-called "new economy" (what a pipe dream that turned out to be!), and is now the epicenter of the dot-com meltdown. Tech jobs are tight everywhere but nowhere is it nearly as bad as in Silicon Valley.
>
>I don't think anyone has their head in the sand or is refusing to listen. And who knows, you may in fact be right that most of us will have to find work in other fields. All I'm saying is the outlook isn't nearly as bleak out here. (Any more than employers were giving us signing bonuses and cars to fill positions 2 or 3 years ago).
>
>Call me a Pollyanna but I think any software developer who is flexible (including relocation if necessary) and willing to stay up to date with new technologies will have good job prospects for the foreseeable future. Unless terrorists manage to wipe us all out first, anyway....
>
>Mike

Mike;

I have this vision of programmers as gypsies in horse drawn wagons or cars traveling around the country looking for work – as agricultural workers have done for decades. Yes, go where the jobs are – that you do for survival but it does not seem like a stable life for a family. But who needs a family if you are a programmer? You have your computer and deadlines to meet. :)

For what it is worth Silicon Valley still produces 25% of the nations export income. This has been true for at least the last 10 years. Perhaps that will change as everything else does in life.

Tom