[throaway1991991]

Thank you for your response and for sharing your personal perspective. I think tackling the long-tail of companies that need low-level tech work is a good track to consider, especially if it leave me some mental freedom to pursue passion projects on the side.

I've spent (probably too much) time in a 'soul-searching' place; I'd love to do some creative work and have some affinity for music, and maybe there's an intersection where my love of music and my love of code has enough economic value to make a living off of.