Have you looked around Boston? I haven't seen as much of that attitude here, including in my own company. Otherwise I'd be in trouble ;-) At least, I suggest

Have you looked around Boston? I haven't seen as much of that attitude here, including in my own company. Otherwise I'd be in trouble ;-) At least, I suggest not taking NYC as representative of the entire East Coast. As for suggestions, I'd say find a project you like working on and do it. I hate writing code that will never be used, and find it much harder than writing code to solve a need. However, that doesn't necessarily mean "a job": there are lots of non-profits that have ideas for computer programs, open source projects with bugs waiting or kids you might know who'd love a game from Uncle Dan. If you miss collaboration, try applying all the skills you developed with regards to people and organization to building a for-fun project team. Look around for teenagers who are bored: organize a robotics team or volunteer with a summer technology program. Check out user groups and find non-employment-related coding friends. Reach out to people who might not already be in nerd-y spaces too; maybe you could start a during-school-hours meet up for stay at home parents. Just because you aren't working for money doesn't mean you can't contribute to projects that will be used and have real-world value. Many of the programs we use every day never made anyone a penny.