I got some good news from our local trade school the other day. They informed me that I?m able to attend this fall to either of the 2 electrical courses i applied for. I applied for a 1 and 2 year course incase I only got accepted to one of them. The 2 year gives training on more in-depth computer controlled electrical components which would be used throughout industrial plants and the 1 year is mainly residential. We?re a 1 hour drive to the nearest industrial plant (our dairy processing plant) and most local electricians in this area say they?re plenty busy working around here without getting involved in large plant projects. To be honest I really am going to miss spreading manure ,planting barley and corn and chopping silage this year. I?m very glad we have 45 head of beef cattle here now to help with the transition. We won?t need a lot of new feed this year but we?re planning to grow some corn next year maybe 10 or so acres. I know we?ll all be fine though . We?ve all been through a heck of a lot worse than a career change. A friend of mine has been adamant that electrical work is an awful job and getting started at 44 is an insult of a career. He keeps telling me I need to be looking for a middle management office job in town. I actually enjoy working with my hands getting dirty and enjoy being out in all types of weather. That?s what I?ve always done and don?t want to give that up to sit in an office handing out orders. It?s not that there?s anything wrong with that either but that?s not what I?ve been cut out to do. My ultimate goal in all of this is to eek out on my own at some point and finish my working years off as self employed again still doing a manageable amount of barn chores every day and putting up a bit of feed every summer. Maybe one of our kids may decide to join me if it works out or maybe they have other plans and that?s perfectly ok too. Having your own plan that makes you happy is far better than being miserable following someone else?s.