> why it surprises people

It surprises young people. 30+ isn't all that old.

I know. I tell friends who are depressed about being 29 that life begins at 30. From my wizened perspective of mid-50s, I even find people in mid-30s to be somewhat green.

Of course, everything I've done in my life has been late. Graduated college and grad school late, married late, had a kid late. So I'm about 10-15 years behind my age peers and experience-wise have more in common with people in mid-late 30s.

When it comes to having ideas... I feel as though I'm bubbling with ideas these days. Maybe it's just too anecdotal to mean anything, but it seems to me that everyone blossoms in their own good time. There's no such thing as over the hill, until you decide that you're over the hill.

31 year old here. I already have ~13 years of experience, and I feel like I still have my best work ahead of me.

48 here, I hope I never reach the point where I do not think the same.

I worked with 72 years old man who outcoded me and my colleagues (I was 36 at the time).

I am 39 and I would love to work with someone like that. I would learn a thing or two and it would give me hope :-)

35 years old and 18 years experience. Same boat. :)

You kids, get off my lawn! I think the youngest coder at my tiny company is almost 50.