Have you thought at all about pursuing something artistic? Artists are always grappling with the how and why of the world in practical (ex. how to make this heavy thing look weightless) and philosophical ways. Your hands-on background will give you some practical and transferable skills. Art is something you can not only do on your own but also share with your family. Art history is fascinating and world expanding, can be as broad or as niche as you care to take it. You sound like the perfect candidate for a good ceramics program to me.
Very interesting point of view, I have never considered art. I would call myself a point above hopeless but you never know until you give it a shot.
I am glad I asked the community for advice. Ceramics..how interesting !
Definitely not hopeless. Inexperienced and untrained is not hopeless.
So here’s why I said ceramics specifically. One, the entry point is low. Most people without training in art are intimidated by drawing (and by extension painting), but there’s a real sense of play with a squishy clump of clay that breaks down the intimidation factor. Two, you can take it as functional or sculptural as you want to. Making bowls is a completely different mind set than making a figure. Three, your skills are transferable as your ideas change. Building a coil pot is the same start to building a hollow figure with coils. Four, there’s no way to run out of new things to learn. Making clay from natural deposits, building kilns, making glazes, studying different cultural traditions, etc. You can dedicate your life to clay and never run out of new things to try. Five, contemporary ceramics makes space for everyone. Ceramic art can spark conversations about modern warfare, or just be a really good mug with a nice glaze. You’ll find a great, diverse, quirky, welcoming community in ceramics. Six, making stuff is really fun and satisfying in a way that nothing else is. Seven, ceramics is quite technical and if you want to dive into developing glazes or alternative firing, it feels more like science than art sometimes. Eight, once school is finished, continuing to practice just requires some space and tools and your internal motivation.
Most importantly, do you want to be the brother that had a rowdy start in the trades and then finally “caught up” with his college educated siblings? Or do you want to be the badass brother who retired early on a blue collar salary and became an artist who makes beautiful things for other people to enjoy?
But seriously, if you’re still not sold on ceramics, make a list of the whys you want to go back to school and be really honest. Mark out the reasons (like ego) that are bad reasons to dedicate your time to this pursuit. The remaining ones might guide you. And if none are left, then be secure in the truth that you worked hard for FIRE and dedicating the next two years to being a great dad and partner is more valuable than a free college program that doesn’t mean much to you.