Last week, I turned the keyboard over to you guys and asked for some help in dreaming up content. I told you to go ahead and ask me any question, or give me a topic, and I’d blog about it in an upcoming post.
Ahem. Not too many of you took up the challenge (looks pointedly around) BUT the clever blogger from whom I stole the idea in the first place came through for me. Suzanne of Mimilou asked: “In a comment on my blog, you mentioned having a crush on editing as a profession. Other than what you are doing now, what kind of career could you see yourself pursuing?”
Well, the ‘kept woman’ career path never panned out like I had hoped, but in general I’d be happy doing just about anything with words.
In a ‘money-is-no-object’ fantasy world, I’d love to be a freelance writer and researcher. (Quelle surprise.) I’d love to have a little home office all to myself and a steady stream of small jobs on a huge range of topics. I don’t think I have the stamina (read: attention span) to be a book writer, and I’m not sure I’d be creative enough to write fiction. But just to write pieces that I could choose, enough to keep me busy about five hours a day… yep, that would be sweet.
In the real world, there’s a part of me that thinks I would have made a really good teacher, espeically to primary school kids. I would have loved to do that, and tossed around the idea of going to teacher’s college after I finished my degree in 1998. The main reason I didn’t, in fact, is that I had gone to school part time while working full time, and you can’t go to teacher’s college on that schedule. That, and I just wasn’t brave enough to give up my income entirely for a couple of years and start over after being in the paid workforce for eight years. Money talks, ya know?
I’m too comfortable in my government job to think about big changes any more. And I do love what I’m doing, albeit some days more in theory than in practice. I’ve worked pretty hard to get where I am, and I’m content now that I’m here. I’ve started to look at other opportunities within the realm of government communications, but I don’t think I’ll ever move outside that scope. Next month will be my 16 year anniversary with the government, and in addition to my handsome remuneration and benefit package, my annual vacation will be bumped up by two days to 22 days in total.
The other nice thing about my government job is that I’ll be able to retire with a full pension on my 55th birthday. That will leave me with a lot of free time to set up that nice little writers’ garret in the one of the spare rooms, as the boys will have just gone off to college. (Yes, I’m 36 years old and have my eye on my retirement. That’s not sad, is it?)
When I go back and read all that, it sounds a little bit like I’ve sold out and am just trudging toward my retirement. I don’t really feel that way – I’ve just always found that a job is something you do during the day that enables you to do the rest of the stuff you love in your ‘real’ life. I guess I’m a little underambitious; I can pay the bills and support my family, but what I’m really passionate about happens after 4 pm. Remind me not to give any future employers a link to my blog, willya?
So what about you guys? What’s your alternate-universe dream job? And, ahem, I’m still taking questions and ideas for future posts… throw a dog a bone, whydontcha?
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with settling into a satisfying job! Especially if you can retire at age 55. Once I return to the workforce, I expect to work until I’m wheeled into a nursing home, around age 85 or so.
Thanks for the great answer!
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with settling into a satisfying job! Especially if you can retire at age 55. Once I return to the workforce, I expect to work until I’m wheeled into a nursing home, around age 85 or so.
Thanks for the great answer!
That was a very interesting post. I’d never thought about it before, but the type of writing you describe (shorter assignments) does sound intriguing. I’m in a government job too and I’m looking around for something where I can write more than just edit, which I’m doing now.
If you haven’t written about this before, I’d be interested in hearing what your home is like (what your decorating style is, what kind of house, etc.) I love to get a glimpse into how other people live.
That was a very interesting post. I’d never thought about it before, but the type of writing you describe (shorter assignments) does sound intriguing. I’m in a government job too and I’m looking around for something where I can write more than just edit, which I’m doing now.
If you haven’t written about this before, I’d be interested in hearing what your home is like (what your decorating style is, what kind of house, etc.) I love to get a glimpse into how other people live.
This part of your post sounds like I could have written it myself:
“I’m too comfortable in my government job to think about big changes any more. And I do love what I’m doing, albeit some days more in theory than in practice. I’ve worked pretty hard to get where I am, and I’m content now that I’m here. Next month will be my 16 year anniversary with the government, and in addition to my handsome remuneration and benefit package, my annual vacation will be bumped up by two days to 22 days in total.
The other nice thing about my government job is that I’ll be able to retire with a full pension on my 55th birthday. (Yes, I’m 36 years old and have my eye on my retirement. That’s not sad, is it?)
When I go back and read all that, it sounds a little bit like I’ve sold out and am just trudging toward my retirement. I don’t really feel that way – I’ve just always found that a job is something you do during the day that enables you to do the rest of the stuff you love in your ‘real’ life. I guess I’m a little underambitious; I can pay the bills and support my family, but what I’m really passionate about happens after 4 pm. Remind me not to give any future employers a link to my blog, willya?”
Only I have about 14 1/2 years with the state of La. and I can retire at 52 with full pension. Other than that, we’re twins.
This part of your post sounds like I could have written it myself:
“I’m too comfortable in my government job to think about big changes any more. And I do love what I’m doing, albeit some days more in theory than in practice. I’ve worked pretty hard to get where I am, and I’m content now that I’m here. Next month will be my 16 year anniversary with the government, and in addition to my handsome remuneration and benefit package, my annual vacation will be bumped up by two days to 22 days in total.
The other nice thing about my government job is that I’ll be able to retire with a full pension on my 55th birthday. (Yes, I’m 36 years old and have my eye on my retirement. That’s not sad, is it?)
When I go back and read all that, it sounds a little bit like I’ve sold out and am just trudging toward my retirement. I don’t really feel that way – I’ve just always found that a job is something you do during the day that enables you to do the rest of the stuff you love in your ‘real’ life. I guess I’m a little underambitious; I can pay the bills and support my family, but what I’m really passionate about happens after 4 pm. Remind me not to give any future employers a link to my blog, willya?”
Only I have about 14 1/2 years with the state of La. and I can retire at 52 with full pension. Other than that, we’re twins.
Let’s see…. an actor (if i can ever keep my weight manageable), a college professory (they get all the perks), oh and why don’t I throw in a novelist (cause I’m not quite this yet. At least officially).
Let’s see…. an actor (if i can ever keep my weight manageable), a college professory (they get all the perks), oh and why don’t I throw in a novelist (cause I’m not quite this yet. At least officially).
Today is my 3rd day back at work after a nice maternity leave. Today, my beauitful baby girl screamed and cried befoe I even began my well rehearsed loving goodbye routine. So today, I would love to work at anything that kept me at home with my beautiful baby girl.
If you asked this question last week when I was knee deep in baby snot, had a fever of my own and could not keep up with this kid’s demand for breast milk I may have said anything that gets me out of the house for a few hours a day.
So, I think I’d like a balance. I would love to do what I do in the office (develop software) at home with a few meetings a week outside the home. I love what I do. I just wish I could do it for the goverment and get some of those lovely benefits and retirement packages.
Today is my 3rd day back at work after a nice maternity leave. Today, my beauitful baby girl screamed and cried befoe I even began my well rehearsed loving goodbye routine. So today, I would love to work at anything that kept me at home with my beautiful baby girl.
If you asked this question last week when I was knee deep in baby snot, had a fever of my own and could not keep up with this kid’s demand for breast milk I may have said anything that gets me out of the house for a few hours a day.
So, I think I’d like a balance. I would love to do what I do in the office (develop software) at home with a few meetings a week outside the home. I love what I do. I just wish I could do it for the goverment and get some of those lovely benefits and retirement packages.
I feel very fortunate to have the kind of gig you describe… part time work from a home office, but in my case I juggle freelance writing with website design and the odd photography gig. I love it, a lot, but what makes me nervous is the lack of pension and benefits that come with a full-time job with a big employer.
We’re lucky DH has good benefits (medical, dental etc) where he works, and we make sure I am making regular RRSP contributions but still… who knows what the future will bring? The instability of it makes me a little nervous, but so far it’s been pretty good.
My dream job: to write children’s books. Some day I will refocus my efforts and get that ball rolling. If I ever see my name on a bookshelf or searchable at chapters.ca I will feel like I have died and gone to heaven.
My question to you: Valentine’s Day is coming up. Do you celebrate it in any way? If so, what’s your ideal? 🙂
I feel very fortunate to have the kind of gig you describe… part time work from a home office, but in my case I juggle freelance writing with website design and the odd photography gig. I love it, a lot, but what makes me nervous is the lack of pension and benefits that come with a full-time job with a big employer.
We’re lucky DH has good benefits (medical, dental etc) where he works, and we make sure I am making regular RRSP contributions but still… who knows what the future will bring? The instability of it makes me a little nervous, but so far it’s been pretty good.
My dream job: to write children’s books. Some day I will refocus my efforts and get that ball rolling. If I ever see my name on a bookshelf or searchable at chapters.ca I will feel like I have died and gone to heaven.
My question to you: Valentine’s Day is coming up. Do you celebrate it in any way? If so, what’s your ideal? 🙂
Professional blogger? Columnist? Something along those lines. Something where I actually get paid to spout off in writing, and I don’t have to wear a tie.
Alternately, if I could convince a Bill Gates type to bankroll it, I’d LOVE to build my own college from the ground up. Put all those half-baked theories into practice. I’d hire some smoothie to shmooze the donors, and I’d actually work on the internal structure of the place. Waaay cool.
(Yes, I’m a nerd. But I’ve made my peace with it. Besides, academia is a nerd’s natural habitat.)
Topics for Dani? How about the moments when you hear your parents coming out of your mouth? Maybe a little essay on BH? A home improvement project gone horribly awry (not that I’d know anything about those…)? Most embarrassing celebrity crush, either now or from childhood (as long as it doesn’t involve Speed Racer. Every 30-something woman I know had a crush on Speed Racer). Maybe a family taste test, blindly comparing Tim Horton’s and Krispy Kreme?
Professional blogger? Columnist? Something along those lines. Something where I actually get paid to spout off in writing, and I don’t have to wear a tie.
Alternately, if I could convince a Bill Gates type to bankroll it, I’d LOVE to build my own college from the ground up. Put all those half-baked theories into practice. I’d hire some smoothie to shmooze the donors, and I’d actually work on the internal structure of the place. Waaay cool.
(Yes, I’m a nerd. But I’ve made my peace with it. Besides, academia is a nerd’s natural habitat.)
Topics for Dani? How about the moments when you hear your parents coming out of your mouth? Maybe a little essay on BH? A home improvement project gone horribly awry (not that I’d know anything about those…)? Most embarrassing celebrity crush, either now or from childhood (as long as it doesn’t involve Speed Racer. Every 30-something woman I know had a crush on Speed Racer). Maybe a family taste test, blindly comparing Tim Horton’s and Krispy Kreme?
I can’t really say. I AM currently doing what I dreamed of doing my whole life, and no, I am not just saying that to justify anything. If I have to pick something ‘professional’, then it would have to be event planning of some sort. All kinds. I love it. I love seeing a project from start to finish. I was never that good (while I was at work) with those never-ending items on my job description.
I can’t really say. I AM currently doing what I dreamed of doing my whole life, and no, I am not just saying that to justify anything. If I have to pick something ‘professional’, then it would have to be event planning of some sort. All kinds. I love it. I love seeing a project from start to finish. I was never that good (while I was at work) with those never-ending items on my job description.
I’m sure during that day of your tea party I asked a question…but I think I blacked out right around that point.
Anyways My dream job. Interior decorator or kitchen designer. And to get my art career back on track and be the top seller(in my group) in my weekenders buiness by next year. (I’m one of the top 10 now) I’d also love to be able to take amazing Photographs of people. I don’t have that gift. I’ve always wanted to write a book but I see writing blogs and reading them I don’t have that gift either. Maybe illustrate a childrens book? I had a list of things I wanted to do way back when. Before Kids.
Here’s a question for ya…If you had all the money in the world and had to give 1/2 of it away where would you put it?
AH! Yes, NOW I remember what I asked you, What stories do you have from University that you can tell us? Or it was something like that.
Hey 2 questions, pretty good.
I’m sure during that day of your tea party I asked a question…but I think I blacked out right around that point.
Anyways My dream job. Interior decorator or kitchen designer. And to get my art career back on track and be the top seller(in my group) in my weekenders buiness by next year. (I’m one of the top 10 now) I’d also love to be able to take amazing Photographs of people. I don’t have that gift. I’ve always wanted to write a book but I see writing blogs and reading them I don’t have that gift either. Maybe illustrate a childrens book? I had a list of things I wanted to do way back when. Before Kids.
Here’s a question for ya…If you had all the money in the world and had to give 1/2 of it away where would you put it?
AH! Yes, NOW I remember what I asked you, What stories do you have from University that you can tell us? Or it was something like that.
Hey 2 questions, pretty good.
I have it pretty good, too. I work PT as a librarian at a fantastic high school. The only problem is that daycare costs are a nightmare. As a result, DH and I are planning to have him do most of the childcare when my colleage retires next year and I can (hopefully) move into her FT job. And then we’re hoping he can find an evening/weekend library gig. And then we’ll all be happy.
I really love what I do, but I can’t afford to do PT any longer given the fact that DH also works as a librarian–just not enough $$ in librarianship unless you’re a school librarian in a good system like mine. Public and academic libraries don’t pay as well.
I have it pretty good, too. I work PT as a librarian at a fantastic high school. The only problem is that daycare costs are a nightmare. As a result, DH and I are planning to have him do most of the childcare when my colleage retires next year and I can (hopefully) move into her FT job. And then we’re hoping he can find an evening/weekend library gig. And then we’ll all be happy.
I really love what I do, but I can’t afford to do PT any longer given the fact that DH also works as a librarian–just not enough $$ in librarianship unless you’re a school librarian in a good system like mine. Public and academic libraries don’t pay as well.
Activism and writing for me, but you already knew that.
I’m sorry you didn’t get any more questions. I figured you’d have so many people biting on that that one from me would be superfluous, and I feel like I know you pretty well from your blog anyway. But here’s a question for you: How did you pick Tristan and Simon for names?
And here’s a slightly harder one (please note I will expect good questions from you if/when I do this myself!): What is the thing you most want Simon and Tristan to learn from you?
Activism and writing for me, but you already knew that.
I’m sorry you didn’t get any more questions. I figured you’d have so many people biting on that that one from me would be superfluous, and I feel like I know you pretty well from your blog anyway. But here’s a question for you: How did you pick Tristan and Simon for names?
And here’s a slightly harder one (please note I will expect good questions from you if/when I do this myself!): What is the thing you most want Simon and Tristan to learn from you?
“I’ve just always found that a job is something you do during the day that enables you to do the rest of the stuff you love in your ‘real’ life.”
Very true, but you can’t hate what you go and do everyday to allow that after-4 life. And nothing wrong with looking forward to retirement. I’m 35 and 55 isn’t that old to me. Anymore.
“I’ve just always found that a job is something you do during the day that enables you to do the rest of the stuff you love in your ‘real’ life.”
Very true, but you can’t hate what you go and do everyday to allow that after-4 life. And nothing wrong with looking forward to retirement. I’m 35 and 55 isn’t that old to me. Anymore.