Yeah, I'd rather not. Pretty comfortable dabbling with Python for scientific projects, and a little API/JSON work. Pretty sure after more than fifteen years in IT, if I had the talent for code, it would have "clicked" by now.

Honestly, given the direction things are heading (Startups wanting generic worker drones, and not specialists) I'm about a hair's breadth from selling everything I own, and buying a $30,000 farm house somewhere in a rural flyover state.

Scripting and automation is one thing, but startups putting ops/architect roles through Fizzbuzz bullshit is a little annoying after a dozen or so interviews.

thats the way technology has always been - you have to reskill every few years or get left behind

There's a difference between keeping up with new tech, and completely changing what it is one does.