[Adrian Schneider]

How do you work that out? In the Royal Marines you do have a social life - as well as getting to travel the world. Really, that is living life to the max.

I see coding as an hobby -- it's something I'd never do as a profession. I appreciate all people who do it as a profession, and wish them the best of luck. I just think there is more to life out there, and sitting on your backside all day will only make you regret it in years to come. :

If you sit on your backside all day then yeah, you are missing out.

If you are self employed you can set your own hours, spend more time with your family, and even have them near when you are working. We're expecting a little girl this fall, and I couldn't imagine being away from them for months at a time. I am not limited to working in one physical location, which lets me travel as I want to. Best of both words? I think so.

I've travelled around a bit due to programming too... met a few clients of mine in North America, and will probably continue to meet them worldwide in the years to come.

Just because you are coding, it doesn't mean you sit on your ass all day and have no social life.