My husband decided 28 years ago that he wanted to spend more time with the family and less time at work. He moved from data processing manager to consultant, working 3-4 days a week. We were very fortunate and it worked out, we always seemed to have enough. As the years went by he was offered very tempting jobs but never wanted to give up that much of his life to work. He finally took a job, but works at home and sets his own schedule. They know he is not interested in any promotion. He has been paid for knowing more about the field he is in than most other people. I suspect that you, Jon, are capable of knowing more about your field than your coworkers and will have a secure place even if you bypass the ladder. There are advantages in being the one who can synthesize all the disparate bits of information and the skill is in short supply from what I hear.

All any of us really has is time and the more of it you can save for the important things the more successful you will have been in the end. If increasing disability should be your lot, and I sincerely pray it is not, why should your job have gotten the best you have left to give?