40+ is old? I still feel like a kid! I'm 47 and generally code six days a week. I've done' the management ascendancy a couple times and have worked for (or c

40+ is old? I still feel like a kid! I'm 47 and generally code six days a week. I've done' the management ascendancy a couple times and have worked for (or co-founded) four start-ups and I worked for one large company. I've kept my skills up-to-date and now command a very high salary. So with my mini-bio out of the way, I'll caveat my answer a bit ... I think a true programmer loves what they do and wouldn't be satisfied with any other role. So I've pushed my way back into development and I'll stay here until I die (I can't imagine retiring). I think the other class of programmers are people that got into the craft because they heard it was a well-paid gig, and thought that their college provided all the education they'll ever need ... they're generally gone in under ten years. Either into management or other careers altogether.