Re-exploring my options

Software options

A lot of the software options are unrealistic in that my ability to form an organization to do them is seriously limited. I don't want to be working on them alone.

Biotechnology options

I am stuck at figuring out how to get into grad school. The problem is particularly acute because I don't want to move, and this seems likely in order to find a grad school that will accept the limitations of my background.

I don't have any lab experience. I could do some more looking, but so far there isn't any obvious way to obtain this. Some mirage like opportunities, but so far no hard opportunities. I am also reluctant to invest a year into gaining lab experience when at the end it might not allow me to go to grad school in the Bay Area, and I don't know I would want to study elsewhere.

Public policy options

I tend not to enjoy public policy.

Other options

Smallpox prize. This has potential moral hazard problems when applied to other diseases. It would be difficult to implement because it need government cooperation. I don't want to be working on this alone.

Moving

I don't want to move. My life feels stable in the Bay Area, and I don't want to disrupt that. I want to be close to Marcy.

Travel

My health condition prevents me from being able to travel in the developing world by myself.

When I am retired, and have a partner, I would be able to travel with them if they wanted.

Volunteering

Volunteering doesn't seem like a good option for me. The key organization I would really like to volunteer for, Grameen Technology Center, would require moving to Washington state in order to do so. Volunteering for other local organizations is unlikely to provide me with sufficient intellectual satisfaction.

Retirement

Retiring alone doesn't work. I get lonely. I get bored. I don't know what to do all day. I am learning this now. I want to retire with my partner.

My assets are probably sufficient for me to retire, but possibly not for my partner.

Work

I want to be part of an organization, and not working alone.

Until I have sufficient assets to retire with my partner, I need to work. I need a job that pays well, which for me means a job in the computing industry.

I might have difficulty finding work giving the current slump in the industry, the length of time I have been out of work, and my antiquated skill set.

If I can't find a job straight away, I should see if it is possible to supplement my skill set with Oracle DBA skills.