I've spent all my married life, plus a bit more, trying to get a commercial licence on helicopters. At one point it didn't seem to be working, but all the holes in the cheeses have lined up and it seems (fingers crossed) to be working.
All those years, my missus - and latterly my son - have put up with me spending unheard of amounts of cash, spending weekends, holiday time and evenings flying, pretending to fly, or revising for exams.
I too work in IT, but I feel it's time to give something back to my family. That's why I choose to work in IT and fly (for money) every other weekend or so. Ten years ago it may have been different, but this way I get both cakes AND eat them.