[mcraenich]

I have a similar problem with a different background. Great pension and salary with a stress-free job that I leave at home.

It's also a problem with the modern world. We lack community, we lack physical, important work, and we spend our lives doing only one thing (programming). No matter what part of the industry you're in, this is going to get boring after a while.

My take is that there's no way around it - if you want excitement you're likely going to experience more stress. If you want stability, security, and a stress-free lifestyle you're going to be in a malaise with a bit of unease. There's no real silver bullet here beyond defining what you value, what your long-term goals are, and enjoying the ride toward those goals.