Most of my decision making is based upon two beliefs. One is that I don't know what tomorrow will bring. The second is that whatever it does bring, I'll find a way to profit from it, or at least survive it. That being the case, I usually make my decisions based upon what I want to do, and have faith that the rest will sort itself out.

Now, if you often want to do things that are really, really stupid, then this strategy may not work for you :)

But seriously, if you're doing what you love, you'll do your best. If you're doing your best, there'll be someone who wants to take advantage of that, and will pay for the priviledge.

When it comes right down to it, none of us know what the future of the programming industry (or anything else) will be. And there is no such thing as a "secure future." As a wise, green little muppet once said, "always in motion is the future." Everything you do, including (sometimes especially!) nothing, is a risk to your security. Some of these risks are bigger (and more nerve wracking) than others, and some of them have bigger rewards than others. So the question is not whether or not you should take risks, but which risks you should take. And that question is simply a matter of temperment, and your analysis of the risk-reward ratio of the choices before you.

No one here can tell you which decision to make. The best advice I can give you is that everything involves risk, so take the risk you can live with. Five years from now, do you think you'll be more likely to look back and say, "Boy, I'm glad I went for it," or, "Boy, I'm glad I didn't give this up"?

Some people drink from the fountain of knowledge, others just gargle.