[Jonathan_Swift]

All the "borkers" (a derogatory term for "brokers", ie. headhunters, recruiters) tell me I'm worth $65.00 working W-2 through a "Body Shop" (staffing agency), in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.

I'm presently working remotely, for the most part from Starbucks and Burgerville in Salmon Creek, Washington for quite a lot less than that.

This because I really DO NOT require $65.00 per hour to be happy as a clam.

The borkers all quite suddenly, as well as quite unanimously urged me to increase my rate from $50.00 to $65.00 at the exact same time!

I expect that word got out among them that they were successful in placing similarly-experienced peers of mine for $65.00, which meant that the borkers could obtain ($65.00 - $50.00)/ $50.00 = 30% more commission almost overnight, were it not that I think borkers are the Spawn of Satan.

[seanmcdirmid]

$65/hour is awfully low if you are paying pay roll taxes, funding your own retirement, and buying your own medical insurance, not to mention vacation and other benefits that you are forgoing as an indie.

[Jonathan_Swift]

That's what I was told was - nine months ago - the going rate for W-2 Senior Software Engineers in Portland and Seattle.

I expect it's a lot more than that in The Valley, and may be a lot more than that now, here in Portland.

However I don't actually require anywhere near $65.00 to be happy.

The borkers wanted me to require $65.00 to accept a gig so THEY would be happy, not I.

All I really require to be happy, is enough cash for WiFi, a single room in a shared house, bus and train tickets about three to four days per week, decent grub and other sundry expenses.

I used to make $120.00 shortly before the Dot-Com crash hit, but that was one of the most horribly depressing experienes of my entire life.

I'd rather make quite a lot less than what I am worth, as I'm rather happy only charging what I actually require for happiness.

[seanmcdirmid]

If not money, you should get something else out of your job...easier, flexibility, good cause...maybe a non profit...but just doing charity for a company is very odd. You should realize your value even if that doesn't involve money. You might be happy as a phd student, pay is similar, you get to do alot for yourself.

[Jonathan_Swift]

Actually I would far rather be a Physics PhD, but academia does not accomodate my mental illness of Bipolar-Type Schizoaffective Disorder in the way self-employed Software Consulting does:

=== http://www.warplife.com/mdc/books/schizoaffective-disorder/

I regard the Computer Industry as much the same kind of Den of Iniquity as Iesu regarded the Money Changer-Infested Temple.

Really I would rather have nothing to do with computers but I must pay the rent somehow.

All I ever wanted was to create something of real lasting value that I would leave behind after I'm gone.

When I attended the Portland Startup Weekend a couple years ago, some Cute Young Thang pitched an iOS App that would help her make new friends by hooking up with nearby strangers who were running that same App.

I can really see how a sexual predator would really get into that.

Some other guy pitched an App that would help him try out new kinds of beer.

I was at the time easily twice the age of everyone else in attendance, even the Startup Weekend Staff. They were all wearing blue jeans, t-shirts and sneakers, I was wearing a medium grey pinstripe suite, a pale blue polka-dot tie and black leather dress shoes.

I was very tired as I had not slept in days so I was unable to give my full pitch as I had rehearsed it, but more or less:

"Why are you even in this business? What are you going to leave behind for your loved ones when you're gone?"

"Will any of the code you write this weekend still be in use ten thousand years from now?"

I pitched my proposal for an automated free website critique tool, that enable most web designers to fix the most common mistakes, but meant to make some coin through paid, more in-depth critiques as well as web design, website operation and SEO consulting.

I have known very well that I have been in the wrong line of work for over twenty years yet I cannot seem to find my way out.

I may know how to get out of coding now though but it remains to be seen.

[seanmcdirmid]

The startup crowd is quite different from the cs academic crowd. As a semi bipolor, I find it much easier for me to deal with and make contributions.