Umm this
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OK age aside as a thought experiment what exactly are you thirty-something guys going to be bringing to the table skills wise for employers in Minnesota that will get them to pay you each the $40,000 to $80,000 a year necessary for middle class existence supporting 3 kids? If the answer is a shrug you are likely to be living a very difficult life. More difficult than putting up with recalcitrant school boards and Fox News watching neighbors while being middle class in your current community.
You need to think very seriously about how you will exist being poor for a considerable period of time until you are able to bootstrap yourself up.
I guess that is important information as well- hell, even here, we don’t make 80,000 combined. Good years, we might hit 65k, but usually we hover around the 50-60k mark. And with three kids, we certainly aren’t living even the comfortable life!
Skills I bring are extensive knowledge of AutoCAD Civil 3D, ESRI GIS mapping software, surveying experience, excellent computer skills (and a CompTIA A+ PC Tech certification), visual basic/.NET coding experience, general office productivity software experience, and an agile and adaptable mind combined with a love of learning new things. But I have no formal education backing up any of my skills (aside from the PC Tech cert), only my time on the job here.
I suppose it is possible I have been deluding myself as to how good I have it here- I don’t normally EVER talk about money, with anybody.
Hell, it throws me off!
It’s hard to say. That combo of skills would serve you just fine for any of several jobs at the Minneapolis utility I work for, but I have no idea how picky they are about having a degree just to check that box. I’ve never applied for a job without one.
I’m a proud Minnesotan, but I would say be careful about where you’re headed, if your goal is to get out of your conservative echo chamber. The metro area is reasonably liberal, though certain suburbs are exceptions to the rule. Outstate is more hit or miss. Rochester or Duluth are probably fine. St. Cloud… well, they elected Michelle Bachmann to several consecutive terms.
I don’t think you are crazy, but I do think you need a plan.
Silophant makes an excellent point, and given that you have some family out there I think ideally you should visit the places you might move and see how they suit you. Also do some research so you have a solid, realistic idea of the cost of living there and how much you’d need to make to be okay.
If that works out, start looking for work. You have programming experience, which ought to serve you well, and I expect at least some of your other skills are transferable too. Do some research and figure out what you might want to and can do. When you write up your resume emphasize your skills and experience; and when you interview approach it with confidence that you have the skills, adaptability, and learning ability to succeed. If you doubt it, so will the interviewer. It might take a while, but you’re better off moving after you’ve found another job rather than before.
I don’t think it’s impossible, by any means. Looking for work long-distance is tough, but frankly most of the work I do (day job) has nothing to do with what I got my college degree in, but if I get an interview I almost always get the job, because by now I have a ton of experience and can have an intelligent conversation about it. Focus on that, rather than the degree – redirect the conversation as often as you need to to tell them how your skills solve their problems.
All very marketable skills for a utility for a company, utility, or municipality needing field survey work or data analysis done. In fact I am surprised you are paid so little if your combined incomes are only 50-60K. I would think a skillset like that would command quite bit more especially in an area like yours in an energy business where housing costs are very high. So the question becomes if your job is the main income driver in the family how important is a 4 year degree for new employers given your skillset? Do you KNOW what other people doing the same work as you in other parts of your company are making?
I think you need to do some investigation
1: Find out how much people are paid in your field nationwide with similar skillsets
2: How important is a 2 or 4 year degree? Can you get by with a 2 year degree?
Talk with someone in the upper levels of the GIS department of the closest college or university. Take them to lunch. Talk to them about your plans and what you options might be. Talk to people in other states outside your company in similar industries. Ask about pay and resume requirements.