For what its worth (not much) We all want happiness. That's a given. To say otherwise I think would require a shrink.

Depending on your personality, you could be a pauper and be really happy or you need some amount of financial security to be happy. Might be bit presumptuous for me to say that you are the latter; however, for most, we REALLY do need some financial security before we can relax and be happy.

If you think, financially you can be comfortable living on physical trainer's salary, and you love that work, then I suggest go for it. It might be wise to talk to few and find out actual work experience from those in the field. What you think and what it is can be quite different.

I also understand GLC's plight. Engineer's pay can be quite high in wireless product. And you become so accustomed to that life style, it is very hard to give up. Just because you can handle it intellectually, doesn't mean that engineering job is right. You HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT PERSONALITY. If you don't, you'll hate it... Well come to think about it, any job, you have to have the right personality.

Getting back.

If you want a career change in mid-life, nothing wrong with it. And in some respect, this will be the new norm. There is lot of good to be said about career change. It gives you new start, new enthusiasm, vibrancy in your life, excitement of new possibilities.

How you go about it though can make this easy or turn it into a nightmare. Plan wisely with your finances before you commit to a career change. Expect not to have income for a year or two. Or can you take a 50% pay cut and still survive. Remember, when you were a starving college student you managed to survive on almost nothing. So it can be done. But are you willing?

My advice has all ways been and will be: If you think the opportunity is greater by changing then go for it. If you are changing because you hate where you are now, then you are running away. Next place may be worse even though the grass looks greener. So think long and hard. Weigh your pros and cons. Research your new field...

As for me, I WAS AN ENGINEER even as a child. I tore apart radios, TVs, anything electronic to bane of my parents. Even dish washer, washing machine, and dryer were not safe with me. Though I did fix all of the above and the garage door opener by age of 16. I like engineering work but I loath most of the engineers I work with. The work is either too easy and I got bored or no good solution existed for the problem given to me... Nothing ever right. The pay was unreal. I wanted to do other things to get away from the engineers but I was soo hooked on the pay and I loved engineering work. I tried to change, went to a cooking school for well over a half a year and I was disillusioned. I also tried pottery work but well the pay... ROFLOL to myself. It is a joke. So I came to terms with my demons and learned to put them away in a box and do what I like to do, Analog Integrated circuit design, mixed signal IC design and program/project mgmt.

Where am I today? Well by Jan '10, general manager of our division, Sr. Vp of engineering for the division, head of marketing and sales, and I was, ahem FIRED! VP of engineering and I was fired last. Division is no more. Finally found a job after 10 month at a very small optoelectronic sensor research house as an engineering manager. Pay is about half, Its not even in six figures. I'm not designing integrated circuits. but it pays my bills for now. I do not think in terms of career at my stage of life. It's just something to do. It's a way for me to rationalize it for now and for me to keep myself sane. Had my engineering pay was quarter of what I made, I may have made a career change. It didn't work out that way for me.

I wish you the best with your decision. Do what feels right in your "gut". Listen to your inner voice.

Smilingcat