Gustavo Duarte has an excellent article on the joys of programming. He notes “Under the right conditions, writing software is so intensely pleasurable it should be illegal.” and he’s right.
There’s something deeply satisfying about problem-solving, both in the abstract world of ideas and concepts, but then also tangibly in front of your eyes as code, classes, and UI come together right before you. I have had times as he describes where it doesn’t seem right to be paid to do what I’m doing. For some people, at different times, programming is that perfect blend of discovery, productivity, and creativity.
Definitely worth the read if you program at all.