While I fully agree with your sentiments for the programming work -- I learned at 12 and never suffered a loss of enthusiasm, and I am 38 now -- I disagree on the money part.
You can love your job AND be rich. I've seen programmers achieve it. But to be brutally honest to all sides, it doesn't come to you by a mere technical talent. Knowing people, psychology, some sociology and basically having an eye for opportunity seem to be key.
I am not rich. I've made a ton of bad financial decisions in my life and for a year now I work really hard to prioritize things properly. I have success on that front and I am now a pretty wise spender (without being frugal, too) but I still live paycheck to paycheck.
To go outside that bubble we really have to stop believing in a "secure income". Many investors and financiers say: "diversify your portfolio". We must all be working on 4-5 places with 5-10h a week each I guess? Or just be consultants at several places where the workload for us is low? Have 10 small SaaS businesses each netting us $500 a month? Not sure yet.
But I definitely do agree that spending the rest of your life only managing your finances is boring and insipid and is a waste of life indeed.
I was responding particularly to the sentiment of why one would still be working as they get older, independent of financial situation.
I don't disagree at all that money and financial maturity matters - simply for assuring the security you need to feed, clothe and shelter yourself through the inevitable ups and downs of life.. as well as open up opportunities that you may not have otherwise had access to.
You can love your job AND be rich. I've seen programmers achieve it. But to be brutally honest to all sides, it doesn't come to you by a mere technical talent. Knowing people, psychology, some sociology and basically having an eye for opportunity seem to be key.
I am not rich. I've made a ton of bad financial decisions in my life and for a year now I work really hard to prioritize things properly. I have success on that front and I am now a pretty wise spender (without being frugal, too) but I still live paycheck to paycheck.
To go outside that bubble we really have to stop believing in a "secure income". Many investors and financiers say: "diversify your portfolio". We must all be working on 4-5 places with 5-10h a week each I guess? Or just be consultants at several places where the workload for us is low? Have 10 small SaaS businesses each netting us $500 a month? Not sure yet.
But I definitely do agree that spending the rest of your life only managing your finances is boring and insipid and is a waste of life indeed.