Ask HN: Have you ever left tech to do something completely unrelated?
I quit a couple weeks ago. I&#x27;ve been a developer for about ten years and I could probably do a lot of different types of development jobs if I really wanted. These last three years though I just loath working on development teams. I decided if this next programming job didn&#x27;t work out I should quit programming. ...thats was TWO jobs ago, lol.<p>After that I took a break and lived day to day. I worked pretty much all day and night for months and it felt so much better than working in tech. For example, I would flip cars by buying broken ones and fixing them, I built a table and sold it at a  flea market, I drove for Lyft, I drove for Doordash (which by the way was great for getting me out to see new places since I&#x27;m a bit of a loner. I&#x27;m serious, it was good for my mental health). I started work on a patent for an invention I intend to sell. I learned how to use Blender to create 3D models so I could 3D print a case for the afformentioned invention. All while being high as a kite whenever I wanted (and it was safe, of course).<p>So when this last job didn&#x27;t work out I wasn&#x27;t nearly as afraid. You know, I&#x27;ve basically been pretending anyways. Like that meme of the dog in the house on fire. But being a programmer and making more money doesn&#x27;t magically make me happier.<p>Right now I&#x27;m flipping cars again. After I flip a few I&#x27;ll drive for Lyft. My long term goal, the only one that matters, the only one that is going to get me into the life I want, is completely unchanged. In fact, hustling like this lets me optimize for bootstrapping a business with my invention. I&#x27;m not afraid of failing. Ill get up and try again. There&#x27;s no point in pretending anymore. I want a better life than this. Programming is not going to get me there.