What do you do for a living ...are you living your dream. (curious vanity)

[kyperman]

Just curious what all you fellow freepers do for a living and are you living your dream, still following your dream, given up on your dream...

I am not doing exactly what I wanted to do...I wanted to be either pilot or a archeologist...neither of which happened!!

Now I am in the safety/security field at a large office furniture maker. Far cry from a pilot...what about all of you?

[stylin_geek]

Actually, I had no idea what I wanted to with my life until I was introduced to computers. I spent 20 years working as a welder, discovered computers, and now am a Systems Administrator.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

I really think I am living my dream. I am starting a business, finishing a MBA, married to my best friend and have a beautiful house in Orange County, CA with a loving family and merciful God to round it out.

[kyperman]

Q: What do the OC and Ottawa County Michigan where I live have in common?
A: The distinction of being the two most conservative counties in the USA!!!!

At least thats what I hear...

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Nice. But California and Michigan both went sKerry. Go figure.

[Dog Gone]

I always wanted to be a lawyer, at least after I wanted to be a Los Angeles Dodger.

It's not nearly as fun or glamorous as I had been led to believe from the TV programs that influenced me, but it sure beats digging ditches.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Am I living my dream? Not really. I wanted to be a Viking raider when I was a kid. Not much work in that field anymore...

[kyperman]

Yeah...two bastions of reality in the middle of fruits and nuts and local UAW thugs.

[JusPasenThru]

I dream about getting paid to dream. No, really, I mean it. You know, sleep research. I could calibrate the machines at the sleep apnea centers. I can establish the baseline. I can set the standards by which all other sleepers are judged. And not just to sleep, but purchance to dream. Dream of streams and gleams and reams and beams. Dream of large meadows with little bunny rabbits hop hop hopping down the bunny trail. Dream of green ideas and blue moods.

Or I'd like to open a bagel shop.

[cripplecreek]

It wasn't what I had planned but Ive found happiness.

I started out like a lot of rural kids. I worked on the local farms after school and went to work in the factories when i graduated. I did factory work till i became disabled in my early 30s. A few years ago I married WAY above myself.

These days I work from home doing everything from small engine repair to building wooden furniture and other wooden doo dads. I also do a lot of minor home repair jobs for the local elderly people (mostly free of charge)

The most rewarding thing is the relationships Ive built with my neighbors over the last few years. My shop has become kind of an informal hangout for some of the retirees. I built some benches and keep coffee ready and in return I get some real gems of wisdom.

I wont get rich but my wife works in the medical field and brings home a pretty good salary. In return I keep the house and yard up and dinner ready etc.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Were lucky here in OC. Ca. we don't have a lot of the unions. All the manufacturing is gone to cheaper areas like Riverside/San Benardino/Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. With the jobs went the union workers. Fine with me.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Do you study archeaology or anty related subjects? I enjoy the CvE, Intelligent Design debates and have an extensive library on these topics.

[musical_airman]

Most definitely, I play music for a living- what could be better than that?

[eagle11]

I would love to be a talk radio host, pundit, blogger and investigative reporter. My occupation is "this and that".

[Argus]

I wanted to be a zoologist but I couldn't hack the chemistry. I like the job I have now, reading scripts for a movie studio. And I write my own on the side. And my daughters are both biology majors in college, and one is studying to be a veterinarian. So what goes around comes around.

[nina0113]

bump for later

[sassbox]

well it doesn't bring in alot of cash, but right now I'm a graduate student, getting a PhD in philosophy. I'd say it's as close to my "dream job" as one could come. I've wanted to be a professor since high school and I'm on my way towards it. It certainly has its downsides, mainly being surrounded by extreme leftists all the time, but it has alot of great points too (family friendly hours, interesting material, comfortable pay) It's the only job I'd want to do, except be an architect, and that's not really feasible anymore for a variety of reasons.

[Dutchgirl]

"If you want to make God laugh, show him your plan"...I am not sure who said this, but I think it is true.

When I was younger and dreaming of personal glory, I took for granted that the people I loved would enjoy good health and that I would have TIME to enjoy and DO a variety of things on this planet, and then my Dad died of cancer at 56. I was 22.

Reality means choosing between a nicer car or providing a home for a sick family member. Reality is watching my son work to afford community college and learning to value what he is paying for rather than being able to give him an education. Reality is the reward of my children honoring the choices I have made and the person I have become. I know there is some country western song out there, thanking God for unanswered prayer.

I am living that. I answer the phone at a flooring company. When my kids are sick, I go home and the world doesn't end. Five years ago, I was the director of a children's mission that was the Federal Summer Food Service program sponsor in two counties. If I didn't show up, kids went hungry. I find that I like being replaceable.

At my high school graduation we sang the Desiderata, it seemed flaky then, profound now:

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.,
As far as possible without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.,
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;,
and listen to others,,
even the dull and the ignorant;,
they too have their story. ,
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,,
they are vexations to the spirit.,
If you compare yourself with others,,
you may become vain and bitter;,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.,
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

continues here

[mlmr]

I work weekends running a locked inpatient psych unit...during the week as a psychotherapist. I wish I could drop the weekend work, but the bennies are golden handcuffs.

I like having my own practice. But I loved my 12 years home with children best. My husband worked at home, I homeschooled, the children were young, and sometimes we didnt go down the driveway for days at a time. That was my idea of heaven...put another log on the fire and I will make more hot chocolate.

When I was thirteen I wanted to be a nun, a rockandroll star, and a spy...a'la Modesty Blaise...in that order.

[dit_xi]

I wasted my youth on obtaining degrees in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, and classical guitar. Well maybe I didn't waste it on classical guitar but those 2 engineering degrees were regretful as after spending 3 years working in the engineering field, I was miserable. I thought about obtaining an MBA or going to law school but my loathing for lawyers dissuaded me from taking the LSAT. Somewhat depressed, I spent the next 5 months driving around the country soul searching and windsurfing in a beat up van...finally took the MCAT and applied to only one med school and got accepted. I figured if I was good enough it didn't matter how many schools I applied to. Spent 4 years in med school. 4 years of residency, 3 years of fellowship training in cardiology, another year of training in electrophysiology. SHEESH...if I had to do it over I wouldn't, I think. Heck, I still don't know what I wanna be when I grow up.