# Describe your dream job **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850 "2017-05-04T12:38:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/1 "2017-05-04T12:38:30Z")
I see a thread in Café Society where there’s speculation whether or not Hoda may have been hitting the big wine glass too hard. When you think about it, her job is probably a lot of people’s idea of a dream job - you sit around drinking with a group of - we’ll call them ‘friends’ for the purpose of this discussion - and hold court all day espousing ill-thought out opinions as if other people cared. And get PAID lots of money to do it. What could be better than that? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/2 "2017-05-04T14:07:50Z")
Race-car driver. Rock star. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/3 "2017-05-04T14:22:11Z")
Writing sci-fi and fantasy novels. I do it already, but I don’t earn enough to quit my day job. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/4 "2017-05-04T14:26:13Z")
I’d like to get paid a lot of money to do what I want. Sometimes that may be laying around the house all day. Sometimes it may be gardening, sometimes cooking, sometimes home repair projects, sometimes sharpening knives, sometimes running errands, sometimes lifting weights, sometimes programming computers or fiddling with electronic circuits. Generally, any job would do, so long as I get a decent salary and 40 hours of vacation time each week. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/5 "2017-05-04T14:27:44Z")
Would it be cheating to say I already (mostly) have it? Clinical Publisher for a large pharma company. Every day, I get to touch, and move towards approval, products that will improve - and even save - the lives of tens, even hundreds, of thousands of people. I get to indulge in complex problem solving, rapid changes in priority and demand, work with interesting people, and do meaningful work. My brain gets exercised, as well as my ability to organize, schedule, and follow-through, and I work with amazingly tallented and smart people from around the globe every day. I see new and exciting science each and every day, and help turn that science into tangible life-altering products. _THAT_ is stealing fire from the gods! The “Mostly” is because the pay could always be better - though it’s not shabby now. 😛 😃 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/6 "2017-05-04T14:41:15Z")
My dream job would be working as a Field Naturalist/photograper for the National Park Service. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/7 "2017-05-04T14:49:24Z")
SDMB moderator. (I need the mug) Actually, I always wanted to sit in the little hut on top of a draw bridge and open and close the bridge for boats. Low stress, nice view. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/8 "2017-05-04T18:53:35Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I’d like to get paid a lot of money to do what I want. Sometimes that may be laying around the house all day. Sometimes it may be gardening, sometimes cooking, sometimes home repair projects, sometimes sharpening knives, sometimes running errands, sometimes lifting weights, sometimes programming computers or fiddling with electronic circuits. > > Generally, any job would do, so long as I get a decent salary and 40 hours of vacation time each week. That’s my view. My ideal job is passive investor with a big enough portfolio that I can spend routinely without much concern about the details. I enjoy doing my work, and it has some cool features. But if they stopped paying me I’d stop showing up. Which is proof positive it isn’t satisfying enough to do for free. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/9 "2017-05-04T18:55:44Z")
Being a movie scriptwriter, but with complete power - as in, determining the casting, all the scenes, dialogue, music, moral of the movie, etc., and not getting vetoed. I guess, kind of like being the director himself/herself, but without some of the baggage/responsibilities of being a director, if that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/10 "2017-05-04T18:58:26Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > SDMB moderator. (I need the mug) > > Actually, I always wanted to sit in the little hut on top of a draw bridge and open and close the bridge for boats. Low stress, nice view. I live about 500 feet from one such bridgetender’s station. From the tone of the tender’s voice as s/he bellows through the PA at cars & bikes & peds who can’t figure out how or whether to obey the crossing gates it’s not quite as stress-free as all that. The temptation to raise the bridge anyhow and dump 'em in the drink must be overwhelming at times. But I agree that it looks & sounds pretty mellow most of the time. All that and a state government retirement plan. What’s not to like? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/11 "2017-05-04T19:06:27Z")
Getting paid for doing whatever I feel like doing. I’ve had my dream job at times, but eventually I feel like doing something else, or I have to do something else to get paid. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/12 "2017-05-04T19:28:35Z")
Greens keeper/Ice maker at a golf and curling club. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/13 "2017-05-04T19:57:43Z")
I would like to work in the bike/snowsports shop at REI, with enough time-off to enjoy those things with abandon. When my kids are thru college and my house paid-off in just a few years, I may have an opportunity to do that. ---
**Author:** ![JcWoman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jcwoman/32/2889_2.png) [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/14 "2017-05-04T20:46:16Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I’d like to get paid a lot of money to do what I want. Sometimes that may be laying around the house all day. Sometimes it may be gardening, sometimes cooking, sometimes home repair projects, sometimes sharpening knives, sometimes running errands, sometimes lifting weights, sometimes programming computers or fiddling with electronic circuits. > > Generally, any job would do, so long as I get a decent salary and 40 hours of vacation time each week. I vote for this, also. I’d also add that I’d like to be able to work part time hours but still be paid enough to live a comfortable lifestyle. Not rich, just comfortable with no worries about paying bills or having the occasional luxury purchase. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/15 "2017-05-04T21:13:54Z")
Lottery winner ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/16 "2017-05-04T21:26:07Z")
What a coincidence. I applied for that very job earlier today! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/17 "2017-05-04T21:52:11Z")
None. None job is my dream job. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/18 "2017-05-04T23:06:42Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I’d like to get paid a lot of money to do what I want. Sometimes that may be laying around the house all day. Sometimes it may be gardening, sometimes cooking, sometimes home repair projects, sometimes sharpening knives, sometimes running errands, sometimes lifting weights, sometimes programming computers or fiddling with electronic circuits. > > Generally, any job would do, so long as I get a decent salary and 40 hours of vacation time each week. That is mine as well and I am trying to make it happen for real in the next few years. “Dream job” is an oxymoron in my mind. I work hard but that is why they call it “work” and have to pay me to do it. If I had to pick something that is a real job, I would probably like being a flight instructor in small airplanes. The pay would have to be greatly supplemented though because that doesn’t generally pay very much at all. I already have the job that I am best suited for (Systems Analyst) in a facility that specializes in things that I am interested in but that still doesn’t mean I am thrilled when Monday morning rolls around. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/19 "2017-05-04T23:15:13Z")
I had it for nineteen years! Unix sysadmin, and database admin, for a large manufacturing corporation. I also did the bar-code labels that went on the back of the product. I was a real one-man band, and I loved it. Then they up and moved the shop from San Diego to Pittsburgh, and I wasn’t willing to go. (They even offered to relocate me. But…winter? Pittsburgh winter? Nuh uh!) ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850/20 "2017-05-04T23:29:55Z")
What I’m doing now (environmental scientist working in state government). Except that I don’t have to ever answer the phone or respond to emails or attend meetings that last longer than an hour. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-your-dream-job/785850.md?page=2)