I don't understand your concern. You're afraid to not get a job, so you won't even try? I am sorry, but it doesn't make any sense to me.
Also, about the age stuff, sounds like youve been drinking the wrong kool-aid. Almost all markets in tech still have great opportunities for 40-years-olds.
You're not sure if you want to go solo or not? That seems unclear to me as well. There are all sorts of investors. If you have the drive to build things and talent, you can definitely attract good investment opportunities.
Harsh criticisms, I know. But you need to think what really is making you hesitate and confront that.
> You're afraid to not get a job, so you won't even try?
I genuinely feel I need a break and need to work on other things. And I feel jumping into a similar tech job would make my mental health situation worse.
The point I was trying to make that being unemployed for a long period makes it harder to get employed at the same level/pay again
> Almost all markets in tech still have great opportunities for 40-years-olds.
Great!
> You're not sure if you want to go solo or not? That seems unclear to me as well
I'm open to self employment, just not not grinding away at a tech product in the hope to get VC money. I don't think I have the passion for tech right now to do that
> I genuinely feel I need a break and need to work on other things. And I feel jumping into a similar tech job would make my mental health situation worse.
You just answered your own question. 6 months off, now. You can afford it.
Don’t try and answer all the other questions about getting another job or who to work for or retrain in another field or all that stuff - you’re not in the right frame of mind to answer those questions until AFTER you have had your rest. You will still think about all of this a lot during your rest period, and by the end of it you will have your answers.
So there you are, rest and work on those physical and mental health issues you mentioned above. There’s your answer.
Also, about the age stuff, sounds like youve been drinking the wrong kool-aid. Almost all markets in tech still have great opportunities for 40-years-olds.
You're not sure if you want to go solo or not? That seems unclear to me as well. There are all sorts of investors. If you have the drive to build things and talent, you can definitely attract good investment opportunities.
Harsh criticisms, I know. But you need to think what really is making you hesitate and confront that.