[timf]

You say "ideally I'd start my own company" -- have you thought about quietly preparing and working on the side on something for a few years? A few years is not all that much time. When it comes time when you can quit and start a company, you will have momentum and a nice personal runway.

Just curious.. that is what I would do.

[tiredkid]

Yes, I've thought about that. In fact I've written some code already, I have what I believe is a good niche and I know how to build what is needed, but I'd also like to get more involved in the startup world in advance of my being able to start my own company.

[robotrout]

You obviously don't need to work (600k / 0.2 = 3M), so you're working two more years for the green card.

Did you know that $50K investment in Brazil gets you a 5 year visa, and after 4 years, you get citizenship? Brazil is positioned well for the next several decades, as oil becomes more expensive. The US will suffer in the next decades as US taxes will grow much higher. Perhaps the US green card isn't worth it.

Still, it's only two more years, so perhaps, why not stay and get it? In that case, why not begin your company now? You can outsource a lot of your code development over the next two years, so that you're ready to go live, the day you get your green card.

[tiredkid]

I don't need to work for the money, but I need to work. More accurately I love building things and having people use them. I could get a greencard, perhaps more quickly, by investing $1m in a company according to my lawyers, and even work on it myself, but I don't want to paint myself int a corner with needing to hire at a certain rate or not being able to drastically change direction.

Yes, I've considered other locations. But, I think California has made me soft - I love it here.

I don't need to outsource a lot of code development. Over the course of 2 years I can crank out a large % myself.

[sho]

"I don't need to work for the money, but I need to work. More accurately I love building things and having people use them."

God, wish I could high five you for that. I feel exactly the same way. And this is why I always contend that hackers are actually closely related to musicians. I've heard many musicians make similar statements: "Well, who cares if it makes money, I just want people to listen to it". I think they're closely related.

I've never met you, and I likely never will, but kudos to you, fellow traveller - I just want to make shit better, too.