one problem i have is that as youth a wasted a lot of time, and it was tree work that sorted me out, and as such, trees is what i know and do. Ive never been to uni, though it was kind of on the cards until they trebbled the prices (i had saved enough to cover my fees and such for a 3 year course and now it wont cover 1) and this has its problems as there are no guarantees youll get a job after a degree, and that is added to by being older and in some eyes over experienced and over qualified for post graduate entry level jobs, the other problem is - the course i really want to study is Forestry, ecology and conservation, which i know i would excel but also know that the job area is rather limited,
I find that careers advice is not very helpful with the issue of retraining when older. especially when its hard to know exactly what to go in for. Also being self employed and such the idea of going back to work for some one else doesnt appeal so much. They say once you work for yourself you cant work for anybody else.
Ive kind of had in my mind that im not going to climb forever...and i think i need to act now to make an easier transition, looking at open University, short trade skill courses, etc, i dont think i will ever be completely away from tree work but maybe develop it as more a side line with the surveying etc, whilst setting up another business in another less physically demanding / damaging environment, but its hard because being a tree climber is either the worst job in the world or its the best thing to be doing EVER! and its the good days i find out weigh the bad ones by a lot!