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Yes, that wasn't a general condemnation of trades, just noting that many of them have typical occupational injuries also. In some trades it really hits you at 50+, when your options for retraining are limited.

The ratio of independents to employees suggest a lot of people aren't in the situation you describe

The key is to be an independent craftsman, and not e.g. lay carpets as an employee (at the businesses pace and mercy), or stand all day, etc...

I think most work is -- at the very least -- bearable given enough independence/autonomy. Programming can certainly be pretty joyful given a reasonably open-ended project and a quiet spot to sit. It's getting the autonomy that's the tricky bit.

To add to that, who are tired at the end of the day in a healthy physical way and most don't have problems with their sleep.