I hate contracting.

[minestrone]

I am just going to go straight out and ask if the code base is a pile of shit: at the interview from now on. I have tried the "what is the design to maintenance split of the work" or "how large is the testing team" but they always spot that one a mile away.

[EternalOptimist]

Contracting is a young man's game. The trick is to make your money contracting in your 20s and 30s, invest it, then slide into a senior six figure job in your late 30s.
Sorted.
No one should be coding after 30.

Plus you don't want to be travelling around after you have a family.

You say that like its some sort of eternal verity. You should really say IMO after something like that beause I know many who disagree.
What you are saying may suit you, and good on you, but It would never suit other people.
hey ho