I had this exact same experience. Eking along is a very real possibility that I rarely see discussed.
To do that, you'll want to be able to talk about things you've achieved. Network with your community, give talks, etc. Get known as the person who can build things, or get customers, and you should be getting job offers.
If you're quietly working on your own thing and nobody knows or cares about you, then yeah you're going to struggle to get a job afterwards. But if you're known as a person who gets stuff done, you should be able to get a job at least at a venture-funded startup, I believe.
If you're an introvert like me, it might require some creativity to find compatible ways to do this, but so this.
Don't go to "networking events". Keep it as close to your natural habitat as possible.