Same here, except that after using C and C++ for over a decade I find switching to another language quite trying. The habit of constantly thinking what machine code is generated from the higher language constructs is really hard to ignore.
Moreover, I actually like C. But it is inconvenient. On the other hand C++ is convenient, but I don't like it. So I started playing with developing a dialect of C that adds support for parametrized code, closures, this pointer and type inference. All the stuff that I use or would like to use in C++, but in a syntactically cleaner way and without all the blubber that C++ accumulated through a design by committee. A hobby project, nothing too fancy :-)
I had the problem of worrying about low-level nuts and bolts for a while too; I guess it must have been the jarring difference in expressiveness between C++ and Lisp that made me stop worrying in the end. I don't think you can realistically wean yourself from C++'s mind pollution gradually - you have to go cold turkey and go with a high level language, dynamic typing, garbage collection, not especially object oriented, etc. Do a couple of smaller projects with a language like that and you'll probably find that you don't really want that "better C++" of yours after all.
Moreover, I actually like C. But it is inconvenient. On the other hand C++ is convenient, but I don't like it. So I started playing with developing a dialect of C that adds support for parametrized code, closures, this pointer and type inference. All the stuff that I use or would like to use in C++, but in a syntactically cleaner way and without all the blubber that C++ accumulated through a design by committee. A hobby project, nothing too fancy :-)