[ryanlchan]

A bit of a false dichotomy here.

Don't do the work because it's expected of you, because it's sexy, or because it's "interesting". Don't do it because your friends are impressed, because the pay's good, or because your friends are there.

Do it because it enables you to do what you love.

[10098]

What if suddenly, by the time you're 50, you find that you no longer love it, but it's the only thing you can do to put food on the table?

[snogglethorpe]

Sure, but there's nothing particularly programming-specific about that situation.

It can happen with any profession, and I can't see that it's any more likely for programmers.

[Personal note: I'm my late 40s, and have been a professional programmer my entire working life. I still love it, and can't think of anything else I'd rather do.]