If you could change careers and have your dream job, what would it be? Let's not all say captain of a cruise ship (or starship, KarenS!).

I liked the website in the thread Marcie started "Are you living where you really want to live?" A questionnaire like for careers would be fun.

So, unless you're a lucky person who already loves what you're doing, what would you love to do instead?

Kim

Before everyone races to say it - I'd like Ngaire's job! Or, at least to be part of a team with an excellent, customer service oriented company such as B&K! Anything travel-related, where you could help people make their travel wishes a wonderful and gratifying reality, travel and meet people from all over the world, and visit destinations I've always dreamed of visiting.

I'm already in my dream job. I get to draw everyday and teach others. Of course if it was truly my dream job, i'd be touted in museums and some of the finest galleries too.

Yep! I'd love that, too. Yet, somehow I think it's gotta be a tough job.

However, here's me in my current career: <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" />

I can relate, Kim!

I currently work in the hotel industry. It's hard work to provide exemplary customer service each and every day and make it look effortless. Ngaire and her staff are the ultimate examples!

If you're talking pure fantasy: mystery writer, I would really love to write light-hearted, but well-crafted fiction like Sue Grafton, Lilian Jackson Braun, Robert Parker or that ilk.

But I would love to work in the travel biz in some capacity, I love planning trips. I was involved in web software development in the very early days, and I thought about doing a travel site, but didn't have the guts or probably the creativity, now people like expedia and tripadvisor do it pretty well. I guess a perfect blend of the above would be either a travel writer, or a mystery writer where the murders are set on cruise ships!

I'm also thinking about doing ESL teaching after I retire from the software development biz, which I love, but don't like the stress.

Wandra, why don't you give your writing idea a try? Not as a full time job though. Start writing in your spare time, that's how most writers (especially fiction) begin.

Wendy

I work for a big software company as an implementation consultant. But, I'm not very good at it, I guess. Not motivated.

Planning trips? Yes! Now THAT'S something I can get into!! And cooking, too. But, do you run the risk, when you turn your hobby into your job, of wrecking your hobby? I wonder. There are some people who seem to make it work for them, huh? Arlene's one, I guess. :)

I, too, would love to be able to write fun light fiction - Janet Evanovich "The Stephanie Plum novels" type writing - I really think she is excellent and I love her characters and stories!! Joanna

When I was little, I dreamed of being the person who puts the jelly in donuts. Now that I am grown up, my dream job would be to work at Google :)

When I was little I always dreamed of being a Vet and caring for animals. Once in HS, still with this dream, I realized I needed to have an aptitude for science...NOT! I struggled for C's! In college I majored in Social Welfare, got degree, hired by state of FL, oops change of plans... Fed cutbacks, job eliminated 3 days before my job was to begin. Already relocated to FL, I stumbled into Real Estate and loved it!! Things happen for a reason!

Now I just enjoy planning trips, caring for pets and LCT! Not exactly a job but a fun pasttime!

That would be cool! I don't know how far north of Pittsburgh you are. I was over that way for a week a couple of months ago on business. I stayed in a hotel near Youngstown and work was in the area of Sharon, PA. Google's driving directions took me through the countryside --- very beautiful.

I think Google's maps are much better than MapQuest's. My GF drove from Boston to Missouri to give her car to her mother in the spring. We were talking on cell phones, she saw a sign on the interstate for Taco Bell and took the exit. But, she couldn't find the Taco Bell! I got on Google's map for the town she was near and found the Taco Bell. She told me what road she was on and which direction she was going and I told her what turns to make! It was so cool!

I love maps. Sometimes I think I'd like to work at AAA and make TripTiks for people. But, that's all on-line now. Besides, how much money could one make working at AAA?? Still haven't paid off the credit card for the B2B on the PG we did Aug/Sept!

Kim, Sharon PA is about 5 miles from me! If you went through Hermitage, that is our "big city", lol!

Nope, didn't get to Hermitage, PA. But, been to the one in St. Petersburg!

That's a good question, Kim! I like what I do now and I get to work from home, so that is a HUGE bonus. But if I were to try to pick something else...maybe something to do with the NFL, because I love football. I also would like to proofread - do any football teams need a proofreader who can work from home?! Silly, I know. But someone's gotta proofread their yearbooks, programs, etc.

When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a meteorologist!

Living quietly on a very large trust fund and being able to do whatever I want...money can buy power, it can enable you to bestow kindness on the less fortunate, etc. It can provide everything but happiness, love and health. You have to make that yourself. That would be my dream job -- to be able to have the complete freedom to make others happy and do for others without restriction. That would make me happy and enable me to live my dreams. I try to do this on a much smaller scale today.

I'd like to be a zamboni driver.

Had to google that one Lawrence!!!

Ahhh - Easy Question.
Own a baseball team, and write a book about my experiences running the team.

If only...

Lawrence thanks for the laugh! That cracked me up. Yeah, you and Snoopy, huh? ;)

For me, well I am one of those lucky people doing what I love...well, since I started actually writing for a living, anyway. But my DREAM would be to write novels in a similar style to John Irving, my favorite novelist (World According to Garp, Cider House Rules, etc.). That's what I want to be -- the female John Irving! Travel would of course have to factor in...for book tours, naturally. ;) And of course, as a successful author, I'd have enough money to take frequent vacations and cruises all over the world. Yep, that's my dream.

I actually have a novel that I completed a couple years ago, I just haven't done anything with it. I suppose I should dig that out and try working on it again (it definitely needs some work).

Karen, I'd love to work for Google too!

Something with animals. If I ever win the lottery I'd love to start a refuge. That's my secret dream.

Kathy

I've actually toyed with the idea of being a professional photographer with a studio. One of my teachers works for Associated Press and gets to travel and get paid for it. Her husband is a writer for AP and they often get paired depending on the subject and story.

The problem is that I'd spend all my profits on new equipment.

Just as long as the NHL players don't go on strike otherwise you'll be delivering Pizzas!!! LOL Hopefully that's a nationwide commercial!