I have my own solo consulting business. I outsource a lot of implementation so I don’t code boring bits in production and don’t have to touch technologies that I don’t like. I code a little kata every morning, and do hobby projects as means of research, promotion, and to keep my skills sharp. On rare occasion I make individual contributions to production, but mostly when I choose to. This could all be fun for OP.

But then I have to manage customers, project/products and above all, sell. I prefer technical stuff but I’ve learnt to find sales palatable, sometimes even exciting. More importantly: necessary. I am dedicating a fully focused and intense Monday every week (plus some residual follow-ups) at the moment, but even this moderate amount of dedication to business development (~15% of my working time) would probably horrify a lot of devs.

I doubt a perfect job exists. It’s trade-offs all the way down. Some people are suggesting academia but many people there complain about lower pay and lack of action.

Like in engineering, choose your trade-offs, and take your mind off them or, hell, embrace them fully.