Family and moving the technological ball forward as best I can, I particularly gravitate toward aerospace/spaceflight (manned and unmanned). Balancing the two

Family and moving the technological ball forward as best I can, I particularly gravitate toward aerospace/spaceflight (manned and unmanned). Balancing the two is a bitch. On one hand I can't/won't neglect my family by taking a job that requires sleeping under my desk/70 hour weeks for extended periods, despite how much I would probably enjoy the experience. I was stuck taking care of/recovering from a bad family situation during my twenties, and married soon after, so my opportunity to take such a role has passed, at least until my infant/toddler kids leave home in 17-19 years. Likewise I can't move too far away from extended family, wouldn't be fair to wife/kids and I actually get along well with said extended family, so it's good for me as well. So I can't work for SpaceX or NASA JPL (no family in CA), not that I have any desire to live in CA or TX anyway. On the other hand I want to set an example for my kids (and myself) that you can have a family and still do cool stuff for a living, even if it naturally limits your options. Just grinding away at a soul-sucking 9-5 for another 35 years sounds like hell, even if it provides a decent standard of living. I should know, it's been hell for the last several years while I get my life in order/train up for jobs I actually want. The "ignore your job and just focus on your family" angle is defeat to me, and if I tried to force myself to think that way it would just manifest as resentment. I busted my ass to get this far, and I didn't do it just to give up on half of what I want. Hopefully going to be ready to start applying some time in 2024, and we'll see what's available/what I can do. Either way I intend to build as strong family and as badass a career as my constraints allow, I imagine that's more than enough work to fill a life.