That is, to make ends meet and get money for upgrading, I'll be taking up blue collar work for a while. Given that it's been seemingly impossible for me to get paid programming work for the last two years (a problem that is now only worse due to the oncoming recession) I've really got nowhere else to turn but either taking manual labour or service industry jobs. And manual labour pays better, plus it's not as (mentally) stressful as working in fast food or retail.

This isn't the end of my life as a programmer. If anything, it's extending it. The labour jobs only require so much of my attention (just enough to do the work without injuring myself or others). Chances are I'll be paying full attention on the job at hand, but even then that keeps my mind clear of things that distract me the rest of the time, allowing me to be more focused when I am in front of screen and keyboard.

Currently I'm on standby. However, I'll hopefully be on full-time by the end of the year. And with fewer distractions (as I won't be having to worry where the money will come from for everything) I'll have more time to work on my projects, and other things!