> sacrificing time I’ve previously spent on other interests

I'd say this is the crux of the matter. Having competing interests and choosing what to do and how much of it is a balancing act, but you can still get that desired satisfaction. You could perhaps even start your own company if it's that important to you.

For me, projects just keep accumulating regardless of how much time I dedicate to them (outside of the mandatory things). Maybe I just have too many things I'd like to build. Definitely thinking about starting a company myself now there's all this capability available.

> I'd say this is the crux of the matter.

That's why my opening paragraph and final paragraphs were devoted to it :)

I feel like a lot of the things I hear from other folks is that I'm missing the possibility of programming the way I used to, rather than being sad that it might no longer be practical within the constraints of my life. Even if I did start doing it on the side, going from eight hours a day programming to squeezing in one or two would be quite the change.

> You could perhaps even start your own company if it's that important to you.

I have no interest in ever starting or running a company. Every person I've known who does it has it consume their life. I'd rather spend time with my family and do stuff which doesn't involve a boatload of stress and additional responsibility. Not to mention that in the case where I'm no longer able to find a job programming the way I used to then I don't think it's likely a company where people did that would be competitive enough to survive, at least not normally. Also, one of the reasons I rarely program on the side is that I don't often have ideas for things to make. I just don't feel the need for much software in my personal life, and certainly don't think of the sorts of things where there's a market for them.

Having a lucrative job where you do something where you find great satisfaction in your daily work isn't the norm and is the privilege of a lucky few, but that doesn't mean they aren't justified in feeling sad at the prospect of it going away.