It is in my opinion an art worth cultivating and nurturing.

Welding is a "hard skill" that nobody can take away from you.

At the least, you can perform your own repair and fabrication, often using scrap material = wrecked doors, fenders, coat hangers as welding rod, the list is only limited by your ingenuity.

Many times I have fallen back on it to make a good living.

My best advice, is to learn the following.

Soldering.

Plasma Cutter.

Oxygen / Acetylene, welding, brazing + silver solder.

Flux core Mig welding.

Heliarc Mig welding (gas shielded).

TIG welding steel, aluminum, and alloy's.

FYI: Most technical schools have adult, and reduced cost or free Senior citizen classes.

.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
2003 Volvo V70

https://www.boldegoist.com/