[SeniorSenior]

Join the military; Afterward everything will seem cool as long as no one is shooting at you. Apply to DARPA or some other "skunkworks." Take a survival class; Few people know how little it actually takes to survive, but knowing you can survive with just what is in your head relieves a huge amount of stress. Go private and start a small computer business; helping others makes life seem worthwhile. Start a "hip pocket" business such as upholstering, writing, wood carving, truck farming; it gives you a fall-back skill and the physical work combined with the completely different mind-set required by that work may cure your burn-out from coding. Your third point is poorly phrased; I would say that you can't "have it your way" while working for others.

[the_only_law]

> Apply to DARPA or some other "skunkworks."

Any guide on how to go about this as an individual nobody?

Everytime I’ve attempted to look into getting involved with the government (I.e. bidding for contracts, working on DARPA projects, etc.) the information they provide just leaves me more confused.