I’m all excited because I’m heading to Las Vegas for the ServerSide Java Symposium. Okay, so the programmer is attending the conference. I’ll be attending the hotel pool and Vegas sunshine. Trips like this are one of the huge bonuses of being married to the programmer. Obviously I’m biased, what other careers offer fun perks?
Personal Tech Support
Hands-on, 24/7, 365 days a year, always free technical support. The programmer must have taken one look at me on that long ago spring day and said:
“This girl is going to need me. I can save countless computers, cellphones, and toasters if I marry her.”
It’s true, I can look at a computer sideways and the Linux kernel collapses, Windows trys to put itself back on the CD to escape, backup batteries burn holes through the carpet (twice), the Crackberry has to have a hard reboot every other day, the television motherboard melted, and the plug fell off the blender. I am a professional electronics’ assassin. The programmer is the electronics’ savior. It’s a match made in heaven. I break the unbreakable, he figures out how to fix it, writes and article about the issue, and gets paid.
Travel to Exotic Locations
Programmers are globe trotters; all they have to have is a computer and an occasional internet connection. No office, no bulky equipment requirements, meetings can be held anywhere, anytime, courtesy of Skype. However, this doesn’t mean programmers don’t like to get together and drink. These events are called conferences. Last year the programmer hit San Francisco, Philadelphia, Reston, Zurich, Rome, and Antwerp all in the name of professional “conferences” (aka beer bonanzas). Okay, okay, they do a lot of Java and Open Source talking, too. Regardless of what the programmers do, I get to tag along and soak up the sights or just enjoy a little R & R. And this year is already filling up: Las Vegas, Chicago, San Francisco, Stockholm…now if only I can get the programmers to conference in say, the Bahamas.
The Ultimate Flex Time
The programmer works from home. His co-workers are spread around the globe. This means he’s not tid to the 8 to 5 schedule. He’s not even locked into Monday through Friday. This means we can go snowboarding on Friday (when it is cheaper and less crowded) and just work on Saturday instead. Or we can go to lunch together. Of course, this also means I’ve stumbled in on a video conference call at midnight and all the other programmers realize I wear crazy bunny pajamas.
Where Your Opinion Always Matters
Sure, programming is about computers and languages, but at its most basic level programming is about problem solving. Programmers are the ultimate problem solvers, and my programmer, at least, loves to know how other people apporach problems. So he is always asking my opinions, approaching me with hypothetical situations, or handing me his latest application and asking me to break it. My opinion, thoughts, and superior technology breaking skills are very much appreciated and, dare I say, respected by the programmer.
I read a few of your blogs, they were very entertaining and well written. I wish my wife knew as much technical jargon as you do. I taught her what Twitter was a few days ago, but I don’t think she got it.
Oh well, she too loves her programming, and for that I am thankful.
I’m a network admin. I sat in the server room all day configuring hardware. Crap, I’m dull in comparison to the jet-set programmers. No wonder I’m single! LOL
@tboehm30 I have to admit, I’m slightly evil in that I learn the tech jargon just to shock and amaze the programmer (and to start philosophical arguments (think Java versus Ruby) when the programmers have had a few too many beers). However, I’m also with your wife in that I haven’t “gotten” it all…like Facebook…where do people find all this time?!?!
@geekhiker Network admins are very sexy (and always in demand)! Come to San Fran in June (JavaOne) and I’ll introduce you to the programmers….hmmmm…except they’re all guys…there’s something wrong with this picture, isn’t there?
Um, yeah. That word would be “I’m up a creek.”