Seems the world is filled with "accidental programmers". Like GrandFather I started out in electronics, moved into mathematics, and programming, because nothing existed to do what I needed. That was in 1970. Then into physics and somehow the ability to run up a few lines of dirty code always came in handy.

But programming is never where my heart has been. I would rather (and have done several times) design the computer that it all works on.

Again like you, I wondered about ageism, and have encountered the problem. But not in my current incarnation as a programmer! The ageist attitudes were most pronounced in engineering and academic circles. Then, of course, their were the technophobic management people who always ask "why don't you want to be in management or marketing?".

So good luck in your new endeavour, I hope it works out for you. But please don't be a stranger, I for one, have valued a lot of what you have had to say over the years.

jdtoronto