I'm an average developer. I can write decent, legible code, with tests, and solve a business problem according to specs. I didn't study CS and learned it all out of sheer curiosity and passion. I have about five years of experience, all at web startups.

So far, so good.

But here is the thing: I only like to stay for a year or less at a given place and then quit (or get laid off, even better because I get employment insurance). I go on a 1-6 months break to recharge before I have to look for work again.

I'm perfectly fine staying an average developer. I want to do my 40 hours a week, sit out of office politics, go home, and do things I enjoy more with the rest of my time. I have no interest in becoming a lead or a senior dev: the extra stress isn't worth it, the Kool-Aid doesn't taste good, and I'm paid well enough as it is.

It feels like I'm living a lie though because hiring managers would much rather get docile, "hungry", "passionate" people who aren't going to leave after 9-12 months. So I have to pretend while interviewing so I can get my next job and pay my bills until it's time for me to take a break again.

I don't enjoy doing this because it feels dirty.

So this time around, I'm looking at alternatives: how can I work on my own terms and take long breaks in-between while staying employable? Should I look for agencies and only go for 3-6-9 months contracts? Should I give up tech entirely to avoid the broken interview process and avoid burning out at work?

I can't believe I'm the only one thinking this way, I know there are plenty of so-called "clock punchers/pragmatists"[0] who refuse to play the game. So I'm asking you: how do you pull it off? How do you survive? What do you tell your managers and your interviewers?

[0]: https://daedtech.com/defining-the-corporate-hierarchy/