# Ignoring money, education, skill what would your job be? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 15, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430 "2011-04-15T01:43:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/41 "2011-04-16T00:58:05Z")
I’m already a librarian and love it. Performing songwriter, which I already am but if I were younger I would go at this full time. It’s cool, by the way, to be recognized on the street sometimes. Sushi chef. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/42 "2011-04-16T01:44:27Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Oooo, my “how I would spend my time if I won the biggest lottery ever” daydream. 🙂 > > I would be a jazz singer. Which is something I’m working toward right now anyway, but I’d be able to network more and take more classes and go hear more live music and take advantage of more opportunities to sing. I’d be a working jazz singer instead of just a wannabe/sort-of-working jazz singer. _grin_ > > And, since that would leave me with many free afternoons, I’d also volunteer at a few places. I did a lot of volunteer work in my 20s/early 30s, and I miss it. I wouldn’t try to fill a 40-hour week or anything, because I’d want to use many of those free afternoons to hang out with my dog, but I’d definitely do a few hours a week here and there. > > (I actually do enjoy my day job, which involves nonfiction writing and editing, but I’d focus on music over that in a heartbeat – though I’d probably look for a volunteer opportunity that involved writing/editing.) Are you me? 😃 Day job (and night job, and weekends job, and holidays job): Freelance copyeditor. I’ve done a little bit of singing, but in folkie venues, and never where people paid admission specifically to hear me. I’d love to get into something a little more jazzy/bluesy/singer-songwritery, except I don’t play an instrument (at performance level) and I don’t write songs. So basically I need a songwriter and a band. Not too much to ask. 😃 But the bit of singing I’ve done I’ve loved, and people do tell me I’m good at it. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll be able to parlay it into something more than singing for chump change and/or tips. _sighs wistfully_ ---
**Author:** ![LegsAkimbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@LegsAkimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegsAkimbo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/43 "2011-04-16T02:28:37Z")
I’d be a park ranger at a beachside state park in Florida, ideally St. George Island but I’d be ok at St. Joe’s or others. I camp at these parks very frequently during the season and that always seems like just about the best job. They seem to basically just hang out, check in the campers, drive around once in a while and chat to campers, take their breaks on the beach, and then they go home. And they get paid for this. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/44 "2011-04-16T03:45:06Z")
My standard answer to this question for the last 45+ years is: - Jet fighter pilot with aspirations to astronaut - Emergency room physician - Jazz vocalist But now I want to add “Assistant to **Cat Whisperer** ” at the top of the list. Ironically (or not) it’s the only one I’m remotely qualified for in this or any possible universe. Barely finished high school after being kicked out at the end of 10th grade and couldn’t carry a tune in a Panamax oil tanker. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/45 "2011-04-16T03:52:57Z")
I changed my mind. Screw politics. I’d be Cecil Adams. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/46 "2011-04-16T03:57:46Z")
Radio talk show host/voiceover (It’s actually what I went to college for) ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/47 "2011-04-16T04:10:13Z")
Aircraft accident investigator. I’d love to work for the TSBC (though the NTSB statistically get more (and more interesting) cases, I don’t want to move to the US). I love following accident investigations, and read historical reports for fun and use them as a basis to teach myself as much as I can. It’s why I’m in school (for 2 more months…graduation, yeah!) and I hope to actually either attain this goal or be qualified enough in a sub-specialty to at least be called in as a technical advisor via ICAO A.13. I specifically want to work in commercial aviation; there’s something about a regional or jumbo jet that’s just fascinating to me! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/48 "2011-04-16T04:31:39Z")
> [@Dr.Woo](#): > > \ > But now I want to add “Assistant to **Cat Whisperer** ” at the top of the list.\ Alright! I have staff! My first assignment for you is get us some snacks, then hang out on the internet until you’re finished. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/49 "2011-04-16T06:35:09Z")
Movie screenwriter. Or some kind of brains trust ideas guy who lazes around in a room full of paper darts and foosball tables, and throws out fantastic concepts that transform a movie or TV series into a runaway super mega hit. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/50 "2011-04-16T06:45:36Z")
Chief of Staff to the POTUS. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/51 "2011-04-16T14:56:56Z")
Park Ranger. I love being outdoors, working with my hands, and helping people out. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/52 "2011-04-16T15:05:07Z")
I would design video games. ---
**Author:** ![inkling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkling)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/53 "2011-04-16T15:10:31Z")
It would be nice to convert my hobby of homebrewing into a job - i.e., running a brewpub or small brewery somewhere. I deeply fear that it would not be near as much fun to do for money, though. I’d settle for working for a really good craft brewery. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/54 "2011-04-18T06:22:09Z")
Foreign entertainer in Japan POTUS The second one is just a egotistical flight of fancy. The first one I’m actively gunning for. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/55 "2011-04-18T13:53:59Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > Are you me? 😃 🆒 I think that writing and music tend to be found together. More specificially I’m a technical writer, and I used to be a member of the Society for Technical Communication: the tech writer/musician combo is so common that when the annual convention was held in Nashville, there was an open mic night. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/56 "2011-04-18T14:27:26Z")
If I hit the lotto & had all my needs/bills handled, I’d still want to make people laugh if I could. I’d write jokes or lines or scenes…maybe some really bad poetry that would make school kids wince like someone just passed gas. Or write a column somewhere on a regular basis that would spawn angry letters to the editor and uber-dramatic subscription cancellations. “I’ll have you know that My Entire Bridge Club will No Longer Subscribe to ‘_Towel Boy Monthly_’ until his column is cancelled and he is Driven from the Earth…!” ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/57 "2011-04-18T20:23:15Z")
Research scientist, for the joy of discovering something new and useful that would change people’s lives for the better. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/58 "2011-04-18T20:23:58Z")
Sizer at Victoria’s Secret. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/59 "2011-04-18T20:45:09Z")
Bestselling fantasy (urban/modern fantasy) author. Famous enough that I make a respectable living and could get paid/comped for conventions, but not famous enough that anyone beyond a pretty strong fan of my work would recognize me on the street. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430/60 "2011-04-18T21:21:56Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > What is your absolute dream job that you would pursue if you didn’t have to worry about the education costs, how much money you’d make, or if you’re actually talented? > > If I could do anything in the world I would actually own a floral shop. Kinda random, yes, but it’s something I wish I could do. If I didn’t have to worry about the cost of the years of additional education required, nor having to support myself in the process, I would love to be an Opacity Researcher for SETI. Barring that, an astronomer with unlimited dish time at the Keck Observatory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-money-education-skill-what-would-your-job-be/578430.md?page=4)