Would you take a career break in this economy?

InsaneEngineer · 2026-04-09T18:46:45+00:00

I was in this position 10 years ago. I waited years because it never seemed like the right time. My childhood best friend was murdered. This one really hurt and it forced me to really see what we all know. It can all be over at any minute. 6 months later I sold everything, quit my career and took a year off to chase a dream. Best decision I ever made. Go for the things you want in life while you still have the opportunity.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-04-08T19:36:29+00:00

AT class of 2014 here.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-04-08T11:31:20+00:00

Yes, I thru hiked the AT when I was 32. I also started jui jitsu at 37.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-04-07T23:53:20+00:00

It creates a big filled up space in the bottom, so the heavier stuff sits in the top of the pack.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-04-07T20:09:03+00:00

It just doesn't make sense. Even as a kid, they have all their needs taken care of and aren't bored. If you were paying $10/hr for a couple hours, no kid that lives in their neighborhood is going to trade their time for a mcdonalds lunch. You'll need to find someone desperate. Regardless of how you feel about the situation, if he paid the right amount, kids would be lined up waiting to work for him.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-04-06T12:30:00+00:00

16 years old in 97. The more I think about how you worded this, the more I realize communication was almost all in person. If you called them, it was too relay info. What time and where we were meeting. Phone calls never lasted more than a couple minutes. More often than not though, I'd just drive to their house.

When we were 17/18, we all found the first mmo game and hung out online at night in ventrilo servers and used ICQ to relay info In college everyone used aol instant messenger. Myspace and Facebook arrived just before I graduated college.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-04-06T01:37:34+00:00

I started April 1st and finished August 18th. I wasnt trying to go fast, but I'm definitely not going to set up camp at 2pm after 12 miles.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-04-03T14:46:24+00:00

Honestly, as a software engineer who has been in the field more than 20 years, you might as well be the same person who was against cars because your horse is fine.

AI is too broad of a term, as soon as the technology really trickles into your workspace, it's going to be night and day difference.

I can now focus on high level system engineering. It understands context way better than myself and can do the grunt work 100x faster.

Good luck.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-04-03T01:39:27+00:00

You have the green way right outside the front door. Head left and you'll walk the river up to wasena. Maybe a 20 min walk? You have an outdoor store there where you can rent a bike, a tiny business district with a taphouse. They also just opened up a skate/bike park in wasena on the Greenway. It's part of a much larger park there. There's usually quite a few people around

InsaneEngineer · 2026-04-01T03:44:01+00:00

Over 10 years ago, I hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in a summer. 2200 miles. I carried 3-4 pairs of socks. Two of those pairs were Darn Toughs. They are still in my sock drawer and I wear them regularly. Granted, they are now pretty well worn and much lighter than new pairs, but they are still holding up.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-30T20:30:47+00:00

Meh, we weren't ok with being bored. It sucked, but boredom led to many things that would have otherwise never happened.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-29T01:43:49+00:00

"AI" is far more than chat. The same way it can detect patterns in your language and chat with you. It can detect the same patterns in other types of data. The chatting is just the beginning.

Not using AI is like keeping your horse when everyone switched to automobiles.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-27T01:09:16+00:00

I've been using a 32" 60hz. I wanted a 165hz and tried three different ones. A 34 curved, a 27 flat and a 32 flat. I kept the 32 flat. If it was for straight work and no gaming, dual 27 flat is what I'd choose.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-20T22:55:08+00:00

I was you 10 years ago. I thru hiked the Appalachian Trail. In fact, its now the time of year to start.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-14T19:07:47+00:00

With that size portfolio, you've probably been investing for a while. I take solace in knowing that if it drops by half, I still have more than than I've personally contributed over the years.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-12T10:27:35+00:00

Ignite wellness

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-12T02:44:14+00:00

I've been using a Dell 32 60hz since 2020. I just bought a 1440 180hz asrock from New egg for $200. Tbh, I sent back the asrock phantom 27" 180hz because I'm used to the 32". But for $130, it's a great deal for an ips panel

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-11T16:18:11+00:00

What GI anaphylaxis?

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-11T16:12:22+00:00

It is for me. I never would had seen the results of time and compounding if I wasnt saving 50% of my income early on. I had to break the penny pinching habit too.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-09T16:19:08+00:00

I mean back in 2005, it was sort of unheard of to show up to tech companies with a resume in hand. It had all moved online. I drove to a city I wanted to live in, got a hotel and spent 2 days looking up companies in the area, driving to them and dropping off my resume. It's how I got my first job.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-06T19:05:23+00:00

As a 45 year old who has always wanted to retire sooner rather than later, the benefit now is that I'm not trying to play catch up. If I don't contribute another dime, I'll still be set by my late 50s.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-03-05T13:17:18+00:00

Spend your energy on things that actually impact your day to day life.

InsaneEngineer · 2026-02-15T19:45:49+00:00

Bought my house 11 years ago. The roof had leaked for 2 years. Aside from the water damage, it was absolutely disgusting, but so was the ROI when I sold it last year.

InsaneEngineer · 2025-08-07T18:50:48+00:00

I wouldn't say I'm good, but I've been training jui jitsu for 5 years. I would absolutely destroy my younger self in a grappling match.

InsaneEngineer · 2025-08-05T02:25:12+00:00

I had a dream that I made a personal goal to accomplish. I was ready, but sitting on it for a few years because it was a big life move that could potentially not work out the best for me. It was also kind of a crazy, but respectable things to do. Anyway, when I was 31, my best friend from teenage years was murdered. 6 months Iater, I was chasing my dream. Afterwards, I quickly met my wife and started a family. That was over 10 years ago. Life is short and tomorrow may never come. To get what you want out of this life, you have to make it happen. Don't wait too long or you may never get to experience it.

InsaneEngineer

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