[runjake]

Why not a paying, small-scale technical side project to keep your skills up?

(This is an actual question. I really want to hear your answer, no matter what it is, as I am in a similar-ish boat.)

[handmodel]

I probably should. I think it has been hard for me to find one that is part-time and worthwhile.

I taught myself circuit design/CAD/3d modeling over the last couple years since I've been doing some amateur product design. I feel like I've made progress but also this has consumed a lot of my spare intellectual time and although I had a few people reach out to me after seeing my amateur projects online have not made any formal progress into the business.