For the fun of it?

Still reading The Digital Antiquarian. Looks like I’m addicted to reading all this great computer history. Something about it reawakens the young programmer in me, curious and amazed with everything. I’m reading the articles in chronological order, though I may skip ahead from time to time. Today I enjoyed going through the Oregon Trail articles and In Defense of Basic, which I loved.

‘In Defense of Basic’ has an insightful message that many people forget: that computers are for creative purposes and for everyone to be able to use and create with. Years and decades of working in the commercial software industry has made me forget this key insight.

I still don’t know what I’m going to be pursuing this year. I guess the least I can admit to myself is that I’m semi-retired with no real intention of going back to grind of corporate software development and IT. To the younger information workers reading this blog – this is why it’s an advantage to live frugally, to have more freedom in the future. That or marry an understanding spouse with a good income who enjoys his/her work.

I’m not in a rush to decide, especially with a bad cold and a fever developing that makes me feel like crap. At least I’m not sick enough to not have the stamina to read. Lately, everything just seems to be good reading. My mind is receptive and wide open to new ideas and ways of looking at things.

One thing I would like to do, which is partially inspired by The Digital Antiquarian, is to go back to doing hobby programming. That is, program for the fun of it – write small utilities, games, try crazy ideas that will go nowhere. I’ve downloaded a text adventure maker called Quest and if it works well, I’ll play with it to use an outlet for some interactive fiction. A long time ago, I wrote some short Choose Your Own Adventure type stories, complete with choices, endings, etc. for fun as a kid. Hopefully being an adult has not dulled my creative fiction tendencies.