[billmaya]

I've got some answers to your questions:

Q1. Is there any hope for someone like me?

A1. Yes, just don't be a victim.

Q2. Is there any reasonable path to starting over?

A2. Yes, depending on how you define "reasonable." Also, you don't have to "start over."

Q3. Where do I even begin?

A4. Start with something small that interests you. "Follow your weird" (http://lib.ru/STERLINGB/story.txt).

Q4. Will tech companies ever consider hiring someone like me?

A4. Depends on the company; depends on you and how you "pitch" yourself. Again, don't play the victim.

Who the f*k am I?

I'm 59 years old and I've been working in this industry since 1988 and I sincerely believe you make your own opportunities.

I guess you can say that I've had 5 careers over the past 35 years.

* 1988-2014 - Help Desk -> Software Developer

* 2014-2023 - Project Manager, Scrum Master

* 2009-2015 - Smartphone Software Developer (P/T)

* 2016-2022 - Startup Co-Founder & CTO (P/T)

* 2018-2020 - Open-Source Project Administrator & Developer (P/T)

I don't have a Computer Science degree though I did attend RPI, left after less than a year, and ended up getting a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Film & Television from NYU. I've read a few books and taken a few classes but a majority of my programming, software development, and project management skills I've learned on my own, sometimes at my day job; sometimes in the early mornings and evenings after the 925.

I've been very lucky over the years but I've also tried to be prepared when new opportunities come around (which includes seeing them for what they are and what they might be). Everything builds on what came before.

Right now, my next plan, my 6th "career," is to continue the project manager-ing since it pays the bills but move back into programming the things I wanted to code 42 years ago--games, interactive fiction--and learn some new stuff like HTML/CSS/JS and machine learning. I don't think I'll end up programming for other people or other companies but we'll see...

Your experience is worth something but only if it's worth something to you. And it can be worth something to someone else at some other company.

Good luck.