I agree with the OP. My day job is somewhat interesting but I have a feeling once I've figured out how it works that I'll be back in the same boat of doing les

I agree with the OP. My day job is somewhat interesting but I have a feeling once I've figured out how it works that I'll be back in the same boat of doing less of my craft and more process. I am very lucky that in software engineering the body of knowledge is wide and always changing and that I genuinely like it. At night I've become more accustomed to reading tech books on the newest technology instead of whatever book for book club. Our profession almost forces us to keep up or get left behind. I love it. Always gets me motivated to think and expand my knowledge.