I've been in the same job for nine years now. Great people, great company, an excellent salary, but it's just gotten old. The work has become repetitive and the big problems have been solved.
So I'm leaving to take a bit of time off and hack on projects of my own. I don't intend to leave programming but I might try and find a new problem domain to work in.
I had an epiphany about this last month: you can't compartmentalize your life. It doesn't work to build your life around a job that bores you - work is too fundamental.
I'm in a similar situation - great salary, great people, not so enthused about the company or the work any more. I'm starting to seriously consider taking a sabbatical of some kind too, good luck with yours!
I know a lot of people who can be very happy without caring too much about their job, but that's not the case for me (or you, by the sounds of it).
So I'm leaving to take a bit of time off and hack on projects of my own. I don't intend to leave programming but I might try and find a new problem domain to work in.
I had an epiphany about this last month: you can't compartmentalize your life. It doesn't work to build your life around a job that bores you - work is too fundamental.