seems like experts-exchange.com, living off the contributed answers from its early years.

i just add -experts-exchange when i search for something.

.. here in Philippines.

I believed this service is far more successful in third world country. In some place there's no paypal or even
the concept of wire transfer is quite alien to them. it's easier to send money through sms than going to the
bank and depositing money to someone's account.

"or would I better off moving back home, getting a mindless but low-stress job, and teaching myself technologies in my free time?"

how young are you?

if you still have time, move back home and as you said you can teach yourself some technologies and your free time.

sometimes the only way to progress is to move few steps backward.

i think it's shortsighted idea from your boss if the reason alone were based on this.

remember that there are quite few forks on this etc. percona and others.

if you're familiar with mysql .. why not try exporting the data from sun mysql and try to load it up on percona's mysql or monty's mysql and see how it works.

if you're already familiar on administering mysql( and quite good at it ) -- that alone sometimes is worth not to switch.