Actually, the decision is a little more sticky, I'm currently working on my bachelors degree and would have to take time out from that to stop and do this, true I could make major sacrafices and accomplish it but the year I've been involved with working in the shop it seems to be a definite trend of good people getting way underpaid in this buissness. This makes me wonder if the scarafices are worth it. Plus theres a place trying to hire me for around $40,000 per year doing what I used to do before I started working as a mechanic (hard to turn down). I love working on cars and feel like I'm damn good at it but I have to keep focused on the future and what will provide best for my family and clearly judge which road to take. Also I have my concern about flat rate, sure I can sling parts on and get cars running quickly but it is also true that with as complex as modern cars are getting and the diagnosis time we spend on alot of them the flat rate mechanic is going to suffer in the near future. I was really just looking for a way to do what I like to do and have a certified skill that could move me back out west. But isn't that the called the dream life? Have the job you want, live where you want, and make alot of money? I envy those of you who have that.