I'm the same. I've been working for my current employer for over 30 years. I'm not doing side projects to impress recruiters. It's an extenuation of the love of programming I picked up when I was first exposed to a Tandy Level I at my local junior high school.
I enjoy going hiking or going swimming in a lake or river or going to movies with friends when that was still a thing, but it's mostly experiencing, whereas programming side projects is creating. I much prefer creating over experiencing.
I enjoy going hiking or going swimming in a lake or river or going to movies with friends when that was still a thing, but it's mostly experiencing, whereas programming side projects is creating. I much prefer creating over experiencing.