>Finally got a new contract after almost a year of nothing except scraping by with my carpentry/repair skills. It's probably only four to six months long and I want to do some training in another area. I'm thinking about becoming a DBA or a network administrator, but I've really only been a Foxpro developer for the past 12 years. Any ideas on the two areas mentioned or another direction that might not run as much risk of keeping me out of work for months on end?
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>Regards, Renoir

Renoir;

Welcome back stranger! Good news about the contract. One of the choices you have to make in life is what type of commitment you have to make to survive in the working world. I have a number of acquaintances who are “starving musicians”. I guess programmers are also in a similar class.

When it comes to network administration you could be talking about some long hours, weekends, and holidays being a thing of the past. DBA’s are not much better off. However, there are opportunities out there so you have to do your homework.

If you go the network route which network? Where are the bucks? Same question for DBA’s. Now how to get the training and some experience?

In the high tech world you have to reinvent yourself from time to time.

Some words on how to survive and succeed in life. Have a rich uncle who likes you and is generous. I try to follow my own advice and my uncle is generous and likes me, however he is not rich. Two out of three is not too bad! :)

Tom