The grass is always greener so I absolutely fantasize about doing much anything else. I also wonder if I can keep on until retirement or if I should seek an exit while I have good finances.
As a Senior+ I’m constantly in battle with god awful leadership. So that sucks, a lot, it’s not what I’m here to do. I’m here to build good software. I’m also here to mentor, that’s fun, but without good leadership it’s pissing into the wind. Also, if you’re not a FAANG type you get capped pretty quick salary wise. While most folks would kill for a 160k salary and benefits the hedonic treadmill is something of a reality and inflation is also cruel.
Still, I get paid to work in flip flops and a t-shirt from my house. Set my own hours (mostly) and do something adjacent to what I love. So it is what it is.