Life of an IT consultant

So I've grown up with computers, I know how to build them and take them apart, I know how to fix certain problems. I've kinda worked with programming a few times in many forms, such as scripting, programming itself..using hex editors and looking at data and modifying it, it's all fun--to me that is.

So here's my dilemma, I'm having a hard time choosing between IT consultant and Software Development. Both seem fun, the problems is that IT consulting, while has its adventages such as traveling, helping other companies fix their tech problems and so on, it has the downside of keeping you away from home, when you want to spend time with family. Software Development on the other hand, if done right, you can stay home any time and work on projects and assist others with programming. The con I think is the inability of traveling. I think anyways.

The technology section is seems mostly dead at times, but I'm wondering if there is anyone here is sufficent advice or someone who's made or currently making a career out of a form of technology. What is the best option to go with?

Give each a try and see what you think. Write a full-featured application and see how you like programming, then volunteer as an IT person or something and see how you like that sort of work after a while. Corporate programming is a lot more mind-numbingly awful than just screwing around with stuff on your own, so be wary of that.

I actually got some good news today.

I talked to a few people in this chatroom that I helped with a bit on a project, basically he has ties in California that could help me get 80k a year without college. All I need to do is work on a few projects learning python and he'll recommend me. They will then pay me to move there with them, he gets a 10k bonus. Sounds pretty superb!