I took the right road to keep it at my own personal hobby, and not pursue it any further than that.

My opinion, now retired after 40 years in electronics as a design engineer and 10 years as a technician before that, is that "doing circuits" is MUCH more fun as a hobby than as a way to earn a living. Professional accomplishments can be very rewarding, and I've had more than a few; but the satisfaction is tempered by having to put up with corporate politics and bad bosses.

Just my opinion; others may differ...

 

My opinion, now retired after 40 years in electronics as a design engineer and 10 years as a technician before that, is that "doing circuits" is MUCH more fun as a hobby than as a way to earn a living. Professional accomplishments can be very rewarding, and I've had more than a few; but the satisfaction is tempered by having to put up with corporate politics and bad bosses.

Just my opinion; others may differ...

You downgraded to a tech in the last 10? Or did you start as a tech? I have been considering downgrading myself. I have an opportunity go to support which will be easier. Pay will be the same. Might be a nice way to ride out my last several years.

 

Exactly as the sentence says: 40 years as a design engineer, and 10 years as a technician before that.

I have been considering downgrading myself. I have an opportunity go to support which will be easier. Pay will be the same. Might be a nice way to ride out my last several years.

Provided you don't have to take a hit on the $$$, and would like the support work better, why not?

During my years as a tech, and mainly while doing the software design (and some hardware) for an Intel 4040-based concrete batch control system, I discovered designing was in my blood, that it was really what I wanted to do as a career. After getting out of the Army in 1973 I slogged my way through engineering school at the U. of Colorado and graduated in 1978, and it was all uphill from there. There've been good years and bad, but mostly good.

 

I did the opposite. I went from an engineer to a technician. Do I regret it? Not for one moment.