>Somebody with sense. I am prepared to quit programming at a moments notice and would like to do so. It has become a game of too many hours worked with less enjoyment and less time being spent with my family or having fun all because we have deadlines and the job markey sucks.
>
>I program to live, not live to program.

Michael;

Well chosen words!

Since I have had to support my family by working as a programmer, I tell people I am in “Survival Mode”. I do this to pay the bills. I refer to this as my “Neanderthal Period”.

At first programming was fun and then after experiencing 20-hour days with seven-day weeks for months at a time (pre dot com) the fun began to evaporate. Add to this working for a few people who have no human qualities and additional enjoyment for programming was lost. Then working for companies that had no concept of how to make a profit additional dislike creped into my life.

To me family is the most important thing in my life. I know programmers who think that the next deadline is the most important thing to live for. Being motivated by deadlines will take its toll on relationships. It keeps the “boss” happy, but then so does a three Martini lunch!

When I leave work I attend to first my family and then pick up my flamenco guitar and forget the world.

Tom