Nicely done Getback.
I too have been thru a few ups and downs.
Earned an Associates in Avionics Technology in USAF then an Associates in Science right after I got out. Had a few good years.
Then Aerospace industry went to hell in late '80's ..we lost our first house (sold it before goin into foreclosure thankfully, but just got out from under it, dint make a dime)
..useda average 250 resume's a month sent out ..after 6 months of hangin on by our teeth wife and I decided to 'go for it' so we moved back 'home' and I went to school to learn Virtual Reality Programming.
Hired out of the program at the 2 year mark (two weeks before finals to earn Associate in CAD Engineering .. since I was 4.0 Deans List with Honors, they gave me a diploma anyway)
..to be Lead Artist for Air Warrior.
EA bought us and showed most of us the door.
Picked up by Papyrus to work on their NASCAR racing sim.
Papy bought by some french company, they laid off most of original crew and others left.
I left to work on Falcon V.0
Company went tits up after 3 months.
Hundreds more resume's out ..went to work as a CAD detailer.
Just wasn't 'gettin it' .. researched, decided on Nursing ..high demand, low supply, for the foreseeable future.
All of a sudden .. I was 'old' .. physically unable to do direct patient care after 3 years of it.
Legs lettin me down and now there just havent been any openings with any skill set I have that want to hire.
Literally every game company has my resume.
Did a short stint at 2XL games doin low poly iPhone games.
My last job to date .. but ..
..good news is I made it.
Filed for Social Security, starts in May.
Don't have much, but Vette is paid for and wife and I will be fine from here on.
I do not have to work for anyone ever again.
Worked with some great people over the years, lot of good times with great teams.
Also worked with some real jerk-wads.
Middle management suit-dweeb wannabe's are the worst.
Learned early on to trust my judgement and to hell with the rest, reduced stress level tremendously.
As tough as gettin a job is, never subjugate yourself to something you know is wrong.
It just gets worse from there.
Walk away. Find another path.
Life *is* too short.
And lastly ..
Prayer Works.
-Frank aka GE