After learning of my condition, I chose to live in Los Gatos. I knew it from childhood as my aunt lived there and I could have all the services I would need to live within a radius of about a mile; doctors, stores, resturaunts, etc. The only thing I didn't have access to was my profession. All the tech companies were at the other end of Santa Clara Valley, about ten miles away, inaccessable to me by a long way.
At first, I took any odd job I could get. But as I got to know people, I became connected to a bunch of carpenters and construction tradesmen who were all just starting out. There was plenty of remodeling going on in the quiant little town that was becoming the preferred place to live by the new, rich executives in the Silicon Valley. There was plenty of work for anyone who wanted it. As I had joined the carpenter's union for a few summer's work during college, I got paid quite fairly and had regular work. However, I wasn't looking to becoming a journeyman carpenter. I took a few jobs in print shops and got the position of Production Manager at the Los Gatos newspaper, published and printed under one roof. As the guys knew I was into art and wood work, someone gave me a sign job they didn't know how to handle. I did some research and took the job. Soon, I was getting all sorts of "dimensional" (as in 3 dimensional) sign jobs. Again, I did not want to spend my life making signs.
Los Gatos had the feel of a small town, in those days. Everyone knew, or sorta knew, everyone else. I had come to meet a few IBM'ers and made a point to pump them for as much information as I could about the tech industry. I still subscribed to a few computer trade magazines, but, really, I felt out of touch and very frustrated.
Though I was able to keep myself alive in town, I never got rich, and at times, I was down right poor.
