Comment We work from home (Score 1) 481
When I was in my 30s I started to wonder about the best way to progress my programming career. I went into management, became a CEO, then COO (when a new CEO came in with money conditional on him being the CEO —bad decision), then after a few years, decided to go back to being a freelance developer. I enjoyed that much more than being a c-suite type, but by then was in my late 40s. Good news was I'd made a firm decision to stick to coding, ignore the management siren call, and focus on what I enjoy. I phased out of Java (too much boring work) and Ruby (not enough innovation) and decided to focus on Javascript (es6, Redux, React and beyond) and blockchain stuff (Solidity).
By chance I was introduced to a firm in Sydney that convinced me to give up freelancing and come work for them. Best decision I ever made. Now in my 50s I am easily one of the oldest developers there, but I get to collaborate with a great mix of younger devs whose energy and insights impress me, even if they lack the tonne of real-world experience that I have. I enjoy mentoring younger devs, solving problems, being the firm-handed coding standards nerd, and working on client issues at a senior level. And by working with younger devs I get to fast-track my learning of new stuff. It's a real win-win. I've made it clear I have no intention of ever being promoted into management, although I am now the Javascript Practice Lead I have no management responsibilities. The firm has seen fit to promote me twice, with excellent pay rises and bonuses, and understands I am best left to continue being a developer and not a manager. I work 100% remotely and service clients out of both the Sydney and Hong Kong offices. There are a few other devs at work of my generation, and we mostly all work remotely. Working remotely deemphasises the age gap between developers.
I feel that what I do for the firm makes a real difference. I love my job, my employer likes me, I have a good relationship with the senior management team and the respect of the more junior devs. I have a rep as a problem solver, clear communicator, and as someone with rich life experience. I like to believe the work I do will be useful for at least another 20 years. I can't see myself ever retiring as such. I client yesterday was asking me if I'd still be working if I'd not lost a shit-tonne of Bitcoin when MtGox collapsed (they'd have been worth about $800k now —sigh) and I said of course. I do this job because it's an activity I enjoy, working with people I like, for clients with real problems to solve.