I live in two worlds.

One world is that of the computer nerd who reads all the time about the latest happenings in technology. I'll work all day with the setup, administration, or programming of computers. Then I'll eat dinner with my family and retreat to my home office to do more of the same until I can't keep my eyes open. I loss myself in the ones and zeros floating around me and enjoy doing it.

The other world is that of non-technical people. Where I will mention something about the Internet or some just mentioned news item related to technology and have friends or family give me blank stares and be unable to follow me in my attempt at conversation. I'll then mentally check myself and stop the thought I was speaking aloud.

I'm sure I'm not the only person that thinks this way. Trouble is that every once and a while I'll bump into that Uber-geek that makes me feel so incredibly normal. I was at a gathering of technical people last week where such an incident occurred. For some reason I fine myself searching for the smartest most technical person in the room and start comparing myself to them. It is stupid I know but I can't help myself. This turns out to be a reality check and I need one every once and a while.

These Uber-Geeks that I'm talking about are both motivated and incredibly smart. I'm generalizing/stereotyping here but I have to say it anyway. Almost all of the Uber-Geeks that I know were not born in the United States but have immigrated here and build their lives around their careers. I hold nothing against them but I admire their ability to devote everything to be successful.

As I get older I come to realize that life is pretty good overall. The reason it is is because I try and strike a balance between the passion I have for my work and life with my family. On the rare opportunity that I get to sit down with a Uber-Geek for an extended conversation I don't find that many of them do have this balance. I sometimes wonder who is it that knows more. The guys who can answer any technical question at amazing depth or the person that knows a lot about such things but has some balance in his or her life? I don't know the answer but I wonder about such things from time to time. Both have pluses and minuses I guess.