Michael Bauer:  

Life I'm in Dallas, TX, writing this short bio in November 2005. I don't live here -- I'm on the road for a project that should last into the Spring of 2006. Colorado Springs, Tulsa, Cedar Rapids -- all heartland USA locations for this project, far from the ocean I love. And, far from my family - wife and two teen-aged daughters. It's been quite a year - a lot of miles, a lot of nights in hotels. Hopefully, a couple of years of this, at most, then, perhaps, early "retirement" (scaling down), and just perhaps, a lengthy cruise on our own vessel. That's the dream. I've had a generally good life with all the highs and lows, bumps and bruises you'd expect to accumulate by the time you get to your fifties. No, I didn't become an oceanographer as I once thought - but I did teach scuba for a few years (met my wife that way), moved to the NJ Shore area, and have become an avid sailor (we both are, and have made a couple of interesting voyages offshore, and truly hope our health and finances hold up until we can cut the docklines and follow the sun for a while). Oceanography gave way to environmental sciences which gave way to computer science on the slow scenic tour to my degree. And the Navy? (Remember, NROTC scholarship). Never commissioned, never active duty - but I now volunteer for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. I've done some innovative and recognized work in my field - interspersed with the mundane and routine, exasperating and stressful. Always long hours. And, most importantly, I've had some fun and lots of fulfillment. I've worked with many good people: colleagues, clients and others; worked for some good companies: E&Y, GE, Sun Micro. At my age and experience level, I now seem to have turned a corner where I'm quite serious about what I do - while also looking forward to the time when it's over. We been places, seen things, had great exper...Expand for more