I did [0], but after that I reassessed, relaxed, decided not to push so hard... and raised my rates.
It's a job, and like any job it sucks (hugely) at times. It also provides money to keep my family, and I get to work on interesting, brain-teasing problems (sometimes! Damn web development).
Frankly, I'm not good at thinking what I'd do until I'm doing it. If I did something else it'd be one of:
Research scientist
University lecturer
R&D
Psychologist
Photographer
I already had the option of a career as a photographer (back before the market tanked, which I saw coming) and classical musician. I'm (mostly) glad I chose neither.
It's a job, and like any job it sucks (hugely) at times. It also provides money to keep my family, and I get to work on interesting, brain-teasing problems (sometimes! Damn web development).
Frankly, I'm not good at thinking what I'd do until I'm doing it. If I did something else it'd be one of:
I already had the option of a career as a photographer (back before the market tanked, which I saw coming) and classical musician. I'm (mostly) glad I chose neither.0. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10169937