I got my ged, educated myself, and make a pretty good living now myself. I am still educating myself (I'm 38) and working on my certifications in the field. I sit at home and study, work remotely after I get home from work, and keep buying books to learn more (and at safari.oreilly.com for a small monthly fee I can read new books online which helps lower my education costs).
Some people wait for the American wish, myself I chose to work for the American dream. Enjoy your retirement!