[raganwald]

If you're young, be sure to read the responses here very carefully. There are lots of people like me who love what they do at fifty or beyond. Yay!

But of course, this sample has survivor bias. How many people who left the profession in their forties are going to post on HN? How many people who are fifty and hate their jobs are going to post on HN?

I love what I do and try to share that love. But my advice to you is this: Don't pay attention to how much we love our jobs at fifty, pay attention to how we got to be fifty without burning out.

[rapind]

Are you seriously trying to give unsolicited advice to the young here? Have the years taught you nothing? ;)

[MattSayar]

So how did you get to fifty without burning out? The advice I've always seen is a mix of: have a healthy work/life balance, exercise, find satisfaction outside of work, enjoy people more than products, and make sure you actually like what you do and where you do it. Anything else?

[blisper]

In my personal experience, resisting the urge/pressure to get into management (vs. staying in engineering). Management in a larger setup invariably involves having political skills of some sort.

[jackbravo]

sounds like you have all the right parts identified. Now its only a matter of doing it =P, best of lucks!

[jstrayer]

I really want to be doing this when I'm 70(14 more years). And then I still want to be doing it, just part-time and probably for free.

[ww520]

You are right. The ones who stick around have done something right.