[throwaway9191aa]

This sounds like AWS, but probably resembles most large companies. Hire great people down a level, and suddenly you are raising the bar. However, you are also grouping folks with 10+ years doing great work with folks who just got promo'd on their first job out of college.

I have not quit. Instead I became a high achiever in other aspects of life. I listen to folks at work talking about programming podcasts and online tech conferences..... I won a bike race last year and podium'd in a 100 mile off road race. I can cook pretty quickly these days, which results in making healthy, tasty food that my kids actually eat (along with the kraft mac n cheese which is an anchor nobody can escape).

Anyway, once you step away from computers life is huge. Give your job what it needs, and give the rest to yourself.

[throwaway160123]

Not AWS, but yes, sadly I expect my employer is not the first one to do this.

Sounds like you have a lot going on in the real life, and I have to admit I am a bit jealous now, I def should "get a life" outside of my work identity, something I have struggled to do successfully so far tbh.

[goalieca]

With every year, I care less and less about comparing myself with my peers. I reached a level I can have a very comfortable life with and anything after this is gravy. I will work hard and try to level up but I won’t grind or trade any of my personal time for money. Especially with kids, I am very short on time!!

[orwin]

I didn't "got a life" for like 5 years (8 if you count my productive school years when all my friends were also devs). I tried multiple sports in those five years, doing sport camps on summer to learn new stuff (mostly water-based in the beginning, i had a 31-32 BMI). I finally found out two sports i really like, i moved in a smaller city, closer to my family, and now am pretty much fulfilled. I have enough money to offer great vacations to my family, i hiked accross Europe in the last 3 years (well, actually mostly Spain and Portugal, i'm doing Italy next autumn, so hopefully at 60yo my trip will be done)(Btw, Spain: Best outside sport infrastructure i've came across yet).

I know it's a really "just do sport bro" advice, and i know that not everybody can do it (i actually have ankle issues since i was 18, and slowly becoming obese did not help at all, but i found a nice PT and techniques that mitigate the pain in the morning). You probably have money so you can try expensive sports like sailing and parasailing (i know i did).

The pandemic helped me in regard with moving out, trying new stuff (i took a 6 month sabbatical where i tried half a dozen new activities).

[throwaway9191aa]

I'm also 42 years old. None of this happened overnight. It is one of those things where you have to ignore where you will be in 5 months, and focus on 5 years.

[alva]

MS?

[atmosx]

> along with the kraft mac n cheese which is an anchor nobody can escape

...truer words were never spoken! :D

[blhblah12345]

Nice! The second best moment of my life was the first time I finished a century. What was your time?

[throwaway9191aa]

My best time ever was with a large group of folks on a route with about 5000ft of elevation gain, and we did it in just under 5 hours. By myself much closer to 6 hours of ride time plus breaks. Doing a century is awesome, and then everyone says a double century is the same, just longer. I want to keep going and see how far I can go. I would much rather do this than learn a new programming language every year.

What are your times? What was the first greatest thing?

[blhblah12345]

My first century was 4500 ft of elevation gain in Normal. I came in 2nd to last after an 85 year old woman who did a century every year on her birthday! I was 300lbs at that point, so it was quite an accomplishment I'm an 8-10 hour rider, but I always finish, and feel helllla good afterwards!

The greatest thing was my father giving me a hug after my first solo flight. He wasn't very affectionate.