[sidlls]

This is a bit odd. I have completely turned my life around in my mid-40s by "pining" (well, actually acting on urges) for my 20-somethings again. I was helped immensely by some extremely good luck in a choice of company to work for that went public and netted me millions. But I took some agency, distanced myself from individuals and companies I thought were not aligned with my desires and needs, and am all the better for it.

More 40-somethings should have a little reversion, if you ask me. Society's ageist nonsense is psychologically--and physically, ultimately--harmful.

[complex_exp]

The first point is more important. The second point mostly helps with getting the first point done. When other things get stable you can adjust things at your job, or just quit and do something else entirely.

Someone in their 20s often believes bullshit stories about productivity, and understands very little about the social practice of allocation of resources and rewards (aka politics). This can be easily observed by hearing statements like "you know, there is politics at place X!". Gosh, well I hope so, otherwise it would mean there is nothing valuable at place X (i.e. nothing to allocate), or there is exactly one person there.

[gabereiser]

Exactly, there's no reason someone in their 60s couldn't also be as productive as someone in their 20s on technology that's only 6 years old to both of them.