I'm 51. Here's how I keep up. I read code. I read /lots/ of code. I'm an ACM member. I go through recent publications and try to read at least a paper a week,

I'm 51. Here's how I keep up. I read code. I read /lots/ of code. I'm an ACM member. I go through recent publications and try to read at least a paper a week, in whatever area interests me. I write designs, using english and diagrams and stuff. I explain APIs and establish contracts with the folks who use my code. Written communication to /people/ is a powerful skill, and you should practice it continually. I like to learn new languages (though my brain appears to be impervious to Haskell and Prolog). Also, learning idioms of the languages I currently use is fun. I write code. The frequency of this ebbs and flows; lately I've spent more time going between groups and establishing common ground that writing actual code, but then I can spend a couple months getting the code done, and it's a ton of fun seeing the groups able to use it effectively. Finally, I have fun. I can't imagine coming to work every day to a drudgery of kicking around a bunch of crap I'm not proud of. Have fun, or you're dead in this industry.