I started out wanting to be an oceanographer, but then I realized my fear of deep water might limit me. Then I wanted to be an astronaut, but I'm not physically tough enough, so I gave that idea up. Then I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I realized that I couldn't cope with the emotional stress of putting animals to sleep on a regular basis, which is part of the job.

Then in the Army, I got into computers, and decided I wanted to be a software developer. I thought I'd need college for that so I took an ACT, got a scholarship to a good school, went for a year, and realized that I was so far ahead of my classmates that I was (even with a scholarship) paying ten grand a year and not learning nearly enough. So I quit college and worked at 7-11 for a year while I taught myself, then went on to write software for another 18 years. If I told you what software I was involved with, you'd recognize it, but you'd also be able to easily figure out my real identity, as I was fairly well-known back in the 90s in some circles...so I won't mention exactly what it was I wrote.

Now, I'm retired, age 42, and wondering...what next? It's kind of boring not doing anything but watching TV and stuff (although that's definitely low-stress and relaxing). I've always thought I could be a competent writer, so I'm considering that. Not so much as a means to make money (I'll be okay whether I do or not, although more is always better), but to have something with which to fill my time that might live on in society even after I am not among the living myself.