But, I fear that is the nature of software development now.

Short term contracts. No bench time. Pay your own benefits. And compete with people making 1/8 of what you make.

One of my best friends, who happens to be a really good software guy, has been in/out of work with Sterling/SBC on about 3 short-term contracts for months now. He works a month, then gets about 2 weeks off, then another month.

I'm really thinking about working on another career, maybe teaching (and work up to being a basketball, soccer, V-ball, or some kind of coach).

If you teach and coach, even in Texas, you can at least make 45K a year, after 5 years. Good healthcare benefits, teacher's union to protect you.

And if I attempt to teach higher math and science, I'll probably manage to avoid most of the undisciplined kids who don't want to be in school anyway. Being a coach means you get mostly kids who want to play ball.

So, if I'm laid off for a long period of time, I think I'm going for a teacher's job, and coach a sport. It might just be more fun than software anyway.

Glen Austin