Not sure I agree with your statements that everyone wants programmers that are young and want to change the world. It may be a SF/Valley thing, I don't know. Definitelly not NYC. Companies are desperatelly looking for people who know what they're doing, that have been on many projects. That have shit in production. Those people are hard to find.
I'm in the same age group as you. I've never coded more or better in my life and I don't see that changing any time soon.
Re:Ask HN: Washing out, and what to do next
by gtsteve on Tuesday March 06, 2018 @04:33PM
(#16532292)
Yes, OP might consider an IT position where programming is a smaller part of the role. As a former programmer you'd probably make a formidable system administrator. I know more than a few who struggle to copy and paste Powershell scripts, which I'm sure you'd pick up quickly.
If you can join a good company I'm sure you'd swiftly become indispensable.
I became a security analyst. It's a way easier (though be it, less exciting) gig than being a programmer. Also being a programmer gave me a boost in a bunch of the domains (CISSP talk there) that cover the profession.
A bunch of other people I know have moved to other areas like:
Database Administrator, Network Administrator, System Administrator, Quality Assurance Analyst
Point is, you have WAAAAAAAAY more talents in those bones of your than you are willing to give yourself credit for... Don't give up yet!!!