Career wise I find myself in a similar position. Roles in my niche skill set are largely offshore or contract positions now. I don’t like the idea of management. I love doing what I do… fixing bugs, investigating complex problems, not talking to people for days!!

I have been debating trainer or tester roles. There is also Scrum master as a possibility but I think that would be too regimented for me, there doesn’t seem to be much scope to adapt the scrum model for different situations - at least the way my employer does it!

Just some ideas, I don’t have much good advice as I’m spinning my wheels without a clear direction at the moment.

While I concede your general point on the practicalities of responsible pet ownership and exotic pets, I imagine that what you are saying about vets be fairly region specific. Indoor birds are the 3rd most popular pet in the UK… albeit with only 3% of households as cats and dogs dominate here. There are 2 vets that service birds within 2 miles of me and one is an exotic specialist. Location was not specified so I suggested some of the more common options if the most popular ones are not suitable.

https://worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/most-popular-pets-in-uk/#:~:text=in the UK.-,Dogs Are the Most Popular Pet in the UK%2C Owned,have at least one dog.

Guinea pig maybe (perhaps a larger breed) although you might still be allergic). I find rabbits aren’t really that interested in playing but don’t know about guinea pigs. If fur is totally out, maybe something like an iguana (but the only one i know of is jubjub on the simpsons). I think this would depend where you live as well. Birds like budgies could be good but the only experience I have is of friends pets, and they stank.