Wayno,
Welcome to the Nexus,

.
A bit more than 6 months ago I returned after a 7 year break at age 55. My husband no longer trips but he may have met you back in the day as he is 73 and spent parts of his youth in the Bay Area. We still live in this area after all that time.
Since my return I have noticed that more and more senior folks are joining up. I do not know if this has to do with entheogens in the news, accelerating existential concerns, a search for healing when other things have not helped or a catalyst and doorway into direct numinous experience.
I suppose the answer could be all or none. For me it was the close to all of the above. Looks like it was spirituality for you. I completely resonate with that and often refer to my DMT trips as church attendance and the DMT itself as the sacrament.
So when was your first DMT experience? Have you had a lot of them? Were they smoked, oral or both?
Regarding extracting from plants. Brother, it is so easy and with your knowledge of chemistry you should have a deeper understanding of the process, rather than be like me where I'm just following a recipe basically.
I often recommmend starting with a small extraction using an easy TEK. The STB (straight to base) ones are certainly a good start. Personally for a first time extractror I would recommend Noman's DMT for the Masses. Regardless here's a link to the TEK's:
DMT and other Entheos Extraction TEKsI look forward to seeing you around and reading your posts.
Drop into the chat sometime if you like.
Again, a very warm welcome to you,

.
"But even if nothing lasts and everything is lost, there is still the intrinsic value of the moment. The present moment, ultimately, is more than enough, a gift of grace and unfathomable value, which our friend and lover death paints in stark relief."-Rick Doblin, Ph.D. MAPS President, MAPS Bulletin Vol. XX, No. 1, pg. 2Hyperspace LOVES YOU