What matters is whether it’s important. I spent a lot of time over the years doing FOSS and learned all that code just like all other code atrophies and dies. Maybe it helps you get a job (mine did), and maybe it drives part of the world. But, eventually, it’s probably not important. Don’t worry about FOSS as criteria for a job doing something that is transient.
If you’re so motivated though, be Richard Stallman!
Hallucinations really seem real. They can be part of your life so much, in small ways or
not. You believe things, you are obsessed at times or all the time with finding the truth and it will seem epic. And you could be right. And wouldn’t it be wild if everyone who knew the truth was right, and everyone’s version of realities commingled in infinite multiverses and simulations and/or every religious, atheist, and agnostic view was correct and everything is scientifically spiritual not existing and existing maybe with darkness and light and love. (Sidenote: I’m Christian, pray, and believe God helps us.) With supervision and/or care, changing your diet, replacing or getting rid of meds/supplements/vitamins and things that could be influencing you, changing your environment, and letting go of all of that, even when it means you lose a lot of yourself in the process, could help you and help others who love you. It may take years. You’ll start to recognize paranoia, conspiracy, mystical truth and let it roll off, because it probably won’t fully go away. This is my reality now. And I still miss the meds.
I’m over 50 and still a professional developer. Sometimes it’s fun, but I’d retire if I could. I don’t have any other realistic option to provide the same quality of life for my family, due to health/mental issues. I worry constantly about being laid off again and often feel like I don’t belong. No offense to the young guys, but I’d be much more comfortable working with older developers, a regular relational database, and racked servers at a relaxed pace, but I’ve interviewed with small shops like that, and they smelled of death.
What matters is whether it’s important. I spent a lot of time over the years doing FOSS and learned all that code just like all other code atrophies and dies. Maybe it helps you get a job (mine did), and maybe it drives part of the world. But, eventually, it’s probably not important. Don’t worry about FOSS as criteria for a job doing something that is transient.
If you’re so motivated though, be Richard Stallman!