Anyone else reach the point where you fully understand your job and it makes the wait even worse?

Ten years as a PM. Somewhat disgruntled, but clear-eyed about what the job is in a way I wasn't when I first started in this role

The role is basically to stand between what stakeholders want and what engineering can actually build, absorb pressure from both sides, and smile through the review meetings when things go sideways. You're not really deciding or owning anything.

For a long time I kept telling myself it was temporary. I'd get promoted out of the weeds, or move into something with real authority, or just leave, but sadly I'm still here.

What keeps me going is FIRE. I have my number. I know roughly when I'm done. Some days that's genuinely enough and some days I look at the calendar and feel the distance between now and then pretty strongly. Especially yesterday when I got thrown under the bus by multiple stakeholders. LOL

Curious whether the clarity thing resonates with anyone else or if I'm just having a rough week.