MY S-I-L works at Purdue. Not a bad place to work AT ALL. I'm surprised your architectural business is so slow; there are new projects popping up all over the place over here, and we'er but 3 hours drive from you guys.

I do the 7:30 - 3:30 university employee routine (albeit for far less than you will be making, I am sure -- I need to find an administrative job here on campus!) and it's not bad at all. I like having my afternoons and evenings free to fiddle around in the garage and whatnot. I think you might find it preferable to self-employment in that you never (really) need to worry about your next paycheck. Good luck, but I don't think you'll need it. Sounds like you have things well in order.

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)