I've been programming for 37 years. Programming is learning and learning makes me happy. I don't hunt, fish, play golf, chase women or drink in bars. I learn. I discover. This vocation is perfect for me.
I was impressed by their decision to drop .NET and go C++ on MS. I use the product daily and have for the last 13 months. It's as important to me as email.
I've lived through a programmer's career already. Everything was good until age 50 when my body punished me for punishing it for 25 years.
Seven heart surgeries. High blood pressure. Damaged kidneys. Removal of an inner ear (from flying while ill and not getting to a doc in some place or another).
Take care of your body, blokes. It's the only thing keeping your brain intact. The cummulative effect of stress over a number of years is to attempt to kill you.