> I feel bad when I see everyone around making progress with their careers. Meanwhile my only promotion happened like 15 years ago, when I went from junior to s

> I feel bad when I see everyone around making progress with their careers. Meanwhile my only promotion happened like 15 years ago, when I went from junior to senior dev. My salary is, I bet, better than most, but salaries are secret. I'm concerned about ageism and who will hire me when I'm 50 and haven't even led a small team. This seems to be the crux of the problem for you. You seem to want to lead a team. But how do you know this won't make you unhappy? Consider... > I also have to do a shitload of reports (which I hate), as I'm the one with the better knowledge of the (decades old) DB. ... Depending on the situation, team leads can spend a shitload of time doing reports, making presentations, schmoozing, stroking ruffled feathers, and generally doing things that looks like non-work from a certain perspective. Have you considered that you've found your ideal situation? No boss. Work on interesting projects from time to time. No mortgage. Earn enough to support your growing family. Live where you want. Maybe those people making "progress with their careers" look at someone in your situation and think, "if only..." Have you considered doing volunteer work as a way to find out how you'd like to lead a team? Schools constantly need volunteers, as to many non-profits. They also need people with leadership skills. So you might be able to dip a toe into the water without making a big commitment career-wise. You might be surprised at how the reality of leadership differs from the fantasy.