i was kinda the same way, slowly went to college for about a decade and lived the drunkards life for most of it. got lucky and met a nice woman when i was on the verge of turning 30 and she kept me on the straight and narrow, I got my life on track and now have a decent paying job, and own a home in a very desirable neighborhood in Connecticut. Its never too late to make a change, sure it bothers me that I am a little behind my peers as far as life's milestones, but I had a good time along the way. Sure I will have to keep working when others will be looking forward to retirement, but hay what the heck I got to enjoy life while I was young instead of saving up and being able to retire at 55.