Seems to me the tech industry is more forgiving than many jobs, in the area of gaps , perceived "flakiness" etc. Many employers just care whether you can crank

Seems to me the tech industry is more forgiving than many jobs, in the area of gaps , perceived "flakiness" etc. Many employers just care whether you can crank out the required features whilst getting along with colleagues. If yes, you're all set. Maybe you should look at contracting?. No-one cares much what you did before with that, just, can you meet the specific requirements for the next few months. Also, there are startups out there that are open-minded. Its supply and demand. If you work somewhere that can't offer as much pay, they can't afford to be picky about gaps. And a job like that can be a stepping stone to a better one. Been there, done that myself after a couple years out of the industry when younger. Good luck :)