Hm, I mostly stagnated depressively in front of the TV when I was poor.

Perhaps you were unemployed as well. I had (have, actually) a job, but due to absolutely hilarious (in hindsight of course) circumstances had to spend most of my money on a room I got via AirBnB.

I even started a technical blog:

https://wringing.it/

But I may not be poor enough anymore to continue writing it.

People get really creative when they have constraints placed on them, in general. Poverty is a pretty strong constraint on a lot of things.

I always do my best programming when I am dead broke and the wolves are at the door.

Pressure of any kind is my best motivator as well. A serious deadline to hit with significant consequences (the consequences don't even have to be mine necessarily) often gets the best work out of me.

Zurich person here. Tell me about it.

I've read a few of your articles before I came here - good stuff.

BTW any interesting tech talks, meetups etc. you can recommend?

thx! everything on meetup.com email me and i can maybe give you a list. (email in HN profile)