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>>Hopefully you can remain naive to the reality of private sector employment. It sounds like you are in a niche market that you made for yourself. Good for you.<<

Not quite sure if what I do fits that. I am in one of the largest consulting companies in the world with over 20,000 practitioners across the globe in just the consulting part. Some may want to relegate that to “niche” but I am not so sure. I have had gigs with several of the Fortune 100 companies as well as some of the largest non-federal public sector agencies in the country. I also just got a raise and a bonus so they seem to like having me around.

But I have made it a point to be the “go to guy” in my line of business/software line and that strategy seems to have worked well. I let them (the Powers That Be) know I am investing my time in knowledge expansion (substitute whatever the heck the latest buzzword is for that). We seem to have reached accord: They supply the materials or class fees and I supply my time and pass what I learn to others.

It does have its fun moments. Sometimes when I am in serious heads-down debugging mode (which I love far more than management), I reprise Admiral Kirk in Wrath of Kahn when he says “sometimes you have to know How Things Work On A Starship” when I plumb the depths of things that just ain’t documented. Those moments are golden. :)

I have been employed pretty much continuously for over 35 years and have owned 2 businesses and had both public and private employers (none less that 5 years). I am not sure what reality you wish me to avoid that I have not encountered.

But I appreciate your desire for my continued success. I wish the same for you.