Raw LLM Responses

I quit a job (October 2022) I had been working where i was the lead for the platform (lowest layers of software support) for nvdimm (dram with flash and capacitor to persist data across power loss/cycles). I also did some work with a PCIe chip making custom fw functionality that enabled writing more code on a host system (forwarded fw read/write access to host) as opposed to needing to add/test firmware changes to the chip every time. I switched to a startup and due to some unfortunate circumstances I lost that job ~8 months later (may 2023). I was able to rejoin the prior company at least as a contractor a few months later (September 2023) because of my aforementioned specialized experience. This being said, I also feel chained because I have been wanting to change directions for a while and while I have some semblance of security because of my experience, I also struggle to switch to a direction I want. There was a time where i would've wanted to do assembly and verilog or at least work on architecting IoT systems. But with how much people care about existing time and experience working on specific things or because of pickiness with languages (i really prefer to go no higher than bash/C/C++) as well as concerns regarding AI, i have decided to try to pursue being a game systems programmer/designer in my free time in hopes that if i become successful enough, i can switch careers that way. I worry about financial stability, but I have been to the ER in the past because of the accumulated anxiety of trying to tolerate a job that didn't give me the creative freedom and pace that i was looking for. The startup i joined gave me more of certain types of freedom but it felt like i no longer had a life and i didn't enjoy the work/product enough to be able to sustain that kind of pace. Finding the right work environment that also is financially stable with life balance is extremely difficult in my experience.