answer:Yes, I have done a complete change of career. I majored in English, but there was no call for English degrees when I graduated. I ended up writing computer application programs when office computers were a very new phenomenon. But I still yearned for publications work, and so somewhere along the line I started moonlighting as an editor, working evenings and weekends, doing freelance editing work for book publishers. I gained some experience and credentials that way, without staking everything on a new career before I knew if I could do it or not. When the business I worked for shut down, I switched over to full-time editorial work and did that for the next 25 years. The software background was a great asset when I started doing technical editing for high-tech companies in Silicon Valley. I’ve always found that being able to do two things can make you more than twice as valuable as someone who can do only one thing. Is there any way that you could try out the equipment operations you think you might like?—for instance, a contractor friend who might give you a chance on the side? I don’t know if insurance liabilities or certification would be a problem, but you could ask. If you could explore ways of combining your knowledge and experience with something new, you might find that you have something special to offer.