Portable Code: About Me

So, who am I to talk about this anyway and what experience do I have?

I'm a computing professional, a specialist programmer in a particularly dynamic industry, with a good degree and a decade of quite varied experience behind me. I think that in my case, the key words there are "computing", "professional" and "specialist" - but I'll talk about that in future posts.

I've been pretty footloose since I left university. My first job saw me bounce back and forth between Australia and the UK - which I didn't set out to do, it just happened that way. Then I had my "settled" period of living in continental Europe in the same flat for 4 years. My working life there was intense at times, but steady and included very little travel. I jumped on a train or plane as often as I could for long weekends in European cities.

I'd always found travelling to be beneficial for my state of mind: relaxing, stimulating, refreshing. Whatever my worries at work or at home, once I set off with a bag I left it all behind me. That was something I lost over time as an itinerant and that I've been slowly recovering of late. If you find travel stressful this blog might help you, but I wouldn't recommend going all the way. For me, travel can or should be calm - time out from the world.

This blog begins when I left my regular job and moved back to the UK, to set up as an independent. Why did I do that and did I plan to become an itinerant? I left because I felt life was passing me by: I had too many dreams that I wasn't able to realise, both at work and in life. What I planned was to give a few of those my best shot until my savings ran out and I had to return to a regular job.

What actually happened? Well, read this blog and you'll find out. But here's the summary:

• I worked from around a dozen cities on three continents, visited many more
• Contracted with a couple of very big firms in my industry
• Earned mostly euros and dollars, even while based in the UK
• Gained a lot of new experience, contacts, CV points
• Kept no accommodation longer than 5 months

My friends and family have long since got used to it. They tend to start conversations by asking where I am. And a few of them, I doubt I could have done it without.

It's often been intense, there's been moments of real elation and lows as well. I feel like I've been lucky, but also that I've been much more able to take advantage of the opportunities that have come my way. There've been worries and stresses and difficulties. It's never been boring.

And what about now?

Well, I think that one reason I'm writing this blog now is because I think it's time to slow down, to settle a little.  I've found new goals in work and life and I think I can achieve more by staying put. I think my days as a true itinerant are numbered.

Having said that: in 6 weeks time I'll be visiting Europe, then probably the US and in October I don't know where I'll be - but I'm looking forward to staying there a while.

YMMV.