I'm 52 years old. My position was eliminated in Feb 2003. I screwed up my knee in Nov 2003, surgery was FINALLY done early 2004, was in a rehab center for 6-8 weeks, an external fixator removed and splint put on, and PT for most of the rest of the year. THEN I had problems getting my van modified (scooter lift, hand-controls and training) for the next 2 years, and early 2007 it was FINALLY done. Though a majority of that, I was looking for a job, even though I'm on SS Disability (knee and other problems and amputations of toes give me pretty stong balance problems). I need it because SS Disability only covers the house, utilities, insurance and a bit more... My wife's check covers our food and most supplies. I graduated from college in 1978 with a degree in Mass Comm/Radio-TV, but couldn't find a job there. I took a programming position and for 25 years, proving time and again I could learn things quickly, including language syntax, I was a computer programmer (legacy languages - BASIC and COBOL mostly, but pretty good experience in RPG, RSTS/VAX and AS400. I live in Central Indiana, and apparently all the jobs here that use these languages are consultants and outsourced to another country, now. I've built websites, and written a number of articles including opinion and comment pieces, mostly for my website, etc. and some people have expressed conccern that employers who WOULD check out my website would find them (disagreeing with my opinions) AND also find a lot of information about me, so wouldn't WANT to or HAVE to call me in for interviews. I HAVE done a bit of playing with PHP using MySQL on my own, and know that many employers are looking for that, but there's no "proof" of what I've tried. I know, also, that many employers are looking for ASP, ASP.NET, .NET, C??, and more. Now I feel I'm I'm being pressured, to continue in IT (computers), that I should go back to school to learn more... "up-to-date" (rad current)... programming languages and more about web design. Most, if not all of it, would be paid for. For 25 years, I learned on the job, and through training within the company. I'm pretty much a renaissance man, in that I know a LOT of stuff, and apparently can impart that knowledge in a way others can understand. (On AB, I get mostly positive responses to my answers, and I have a few FAQs on my website, that many people can understand.) I am also of the opinion that KNOWING computer logic is more important that knowing language syntax. (If you know how to write a program, the syntax is EASY to learn ... The logic, much less so.) And, I DO like learning. For some reason, I REALLY don't want to go back to school, taking classes in any of these languages. I can't make myself WANT to, and wouldn't mind switching careers, but most of what I would want to do in those situations also require more schooling. (Genealogy/History, Library work (mostly local history room would be a preference), I've looked at HR Block training, but the local office is only open Jan-about May, and while I'm good with numbers (NOT good with accounting), don't know that I'd want to do THAT for the rest of my life. Why am I reticent? Why don't I WANT to go back to school to take classes, and maybe get an associates degree, PROVIING that I know web design and web programming? I'm pretty sure I would enjoy it once I started, but also have worries about the money and time it will take. And there's no real guarantee that once I DO get that schooling, I will find a job in the field(s) I went for. (It DID happen before.) In some respects, I know it's intertia ... Money's tight, but not completely unmanageable. A bit more would ALWAYS help. I always advocate others go back to school, but I can't get myself to do it. Why? Any insights and/or suggestions?