If you had to change careers or jobs right now, what would you choose to do?

I'm retired now and don't ever want to work again. I was definitely "working to live" and not "living to work." If I was just starting out or still had to work and could get whatever I wanted, it'd be working with plants, like maybe in a big nursery --Repotting, watering, etc. Or working as a gardener outdoors -- like weeding, planting, trimming.

I think I would like to work as a gardener or in a nursery or something with plants and flowers. If I really had to completely change jobs.

How did you manage to retire? You're still pretty young, aren't you?

I'm 62. I just act (and look -- so I've been told many times) much younger. I was so fed up with working long- and short-term temp jobs since I was laid off in '98 from a 22-year perm job that when I went to the SS office and discovered I could actually make more money than I could working temp and/or trying to survive on unemployment insurance, I decided to go for it and take early retirement. One can retire at 62 if they wish. I'm not well-off by any means (FAR from it) but at least it's not the huge hassle it used to be trying to find work and feeling so totally insecure all the time.

I actually looked into police services and a couple of other things I think I would have been well suited for. What I'm doing now is such a royal pain in the ass with all the changes going on with suppliers etc. I'm going to have to stick with it as it will cost me loads of money if I ditch on it now. That's what inspired this survey. What can be... what may have been...

I had no idea you were 62! Well, congrats on your retirement!

Be a pilot.

Thanx. I highly recommend it. I definitely do not miss anything about work!

My landlord and his wife are retired, and I completely envy their lifestyle!

I know some people absolutely love their work. It takes so much time away from one's personal life and hobbies though, and if you absolutely hate your job it can get really depressing and seriously stressful. Especially if you are forced to commute long hours to and from, especially if one is driving -- like during rush hour. I think a lot of it is sleep deprivation too. My sister, for example, never has enough time for her hobbies and never gets enough sleep. Your landlord and his wife probably had the sense to save a lot of money for their retirement -- unlike me. If I could do it over again I'd purchase some sort of good retirement plan and contribute to it regularly.

I just did this. I left the security of my job of 9 years to find something that I'd be happier doing. It's been difficult. I am financially destitute at this point and have no idea how I am going to pay rent or utilities. I have never been happier and I am so hopeful and feel the possibilities are endless. It is by far the biggest risk I have ever taken. I applied for full time position at a lovely little shop near my home. I know I got it. I'm sure they will be calling me this week and I'll be gainfully employed again and happier than ever. Anyone in the position of dreading and hating their work to the point of stress, resentment, anxiety, misery and the effects of that negativity bleeding over and ruining their happiness in other areas of life should just RISK and CHANGE. Do not be scared. You'll be ok.

I absolutely love the field I'm entering, and wouldn't change that for the world. If at some time in the future I decide on a career change, it would have to be something else that involves dealing with children (though maybe something that would pay more than 30k a year).

I think they lost a lot of their retirement savings when the tech boom collapsed; they must still have some, plus social security, and they also have a few rental properties, here and on the east coast. Since I've been in school, I haven't had a job where I could start saving for retirement. I can't wait to have a 401K!

A 401K was exactly what I should have had.

Something different
I would like to get into web design

Alaskan bush pilot

At least you have Social Security; that'll probably be gone by the time I retire.

rock star

Is there really that much danger of that happening?

Don't have one now, I would love to go back though.

I intend to make a change, but not to something completely different. I want to be a doctor, and as long as some medical school recognises my commitment and ability, I will be a doctor!

Drive a truck, bartender, auto mechanic, security guard are about the only things i have done and have certifcations qualifying me to do those, besides road construction and current job of part time taxi driving

Ask me in five years when I will (hopefully) have completed my education. It's too early to say. But let's say if I could go back and pick a different path of education, I think I would have liked physics.

If I was to answer based purely on the initial question, I would say..."an ice cream maker'! yay!
But with the options available, which changes everything, I would not change (I don't like the word 'never') my career, I would maybe modify but definetly improve. I want to be better.

> Is there really that much danger of that happening?

I very well recall, in fourth grade social studies class back around 1971, the book we were working out of, or it was the teacher clearly stated that by the time my generation got to be retirement age, there would be no more social security. I remember discussing it with my sister, who was 16 months older than me. So, at ten years old, I had already made the decision that I could not depend on that being available. So here we are, in the 21st century, surprised that *gasp* there isn't enough! So either someone is lying, or the powers to be were in the same class as I and took it way too literally.

Oh, btw, my dad thought I would do well in the police services.

I have no idea.

I want to be a telephone sanitizer.

If I left the IT industry, I'd love to be a teacher.

Why am I not ?

If that gets to be the case, whoever doesn't already have a separate retirement plan could be homeless.

I don't foresee that happening. I doubt I wuld ever be homeless, as I have been preparing for the downfall of civilization as we know it since I was wee. I am sure there are a few brains in the government that will figure something out. Who knows, maybe someone has the solution, because they learned about it in fourth grade social studies class, and are waiting for tjust the right time to be ahero and save the day.
Really, I don't think things could ever be so bad the government couldn't or wouldn't do something to prevent thousands of old people lying around in the streets. Those cardboard boxes are much better suited for younger bodies, and they wouldn't be able to feed themselves or beg as good as the kids.

Well, some people say yes, and some say no. I think it can be saved, but the question is whether it actually will be or not.

I think you are right. It's bad enough as it is with all today's homeless.

I can't really ever change being a mom..but I want to get a social services degree and help work through an adoption agency in aiding adoptions

I would love to be a secretary and working with the computer and pushing papers around, or just some plain office work in a busy office

I don't see that happening. I actually feel like I'm finally doing what I should be doing. I don't see that changing. My actual job title will likely change. Perhaps soon. But I doubt the sort of work I'm doing will change.

Right now, my position is janitor/maintenance. I work two days a week at a drop in centre. I'd like to become a full time drop in centre worker. I'd get paid more, but my job really wouldn't be that different.

Well being disabled it would be nice to be able to work... I always wanted to be a hit man for some secret government organization ROFLMAO

If the conditions were right (which they are far from being at this time) I would open up a coffee shop.

I don't have a career or job anymore.

I would have done an Information Manageent degree and would not be librarian. Damn it.

You're a librarian? I've always wanted to be a librarian.

Lol no, I must have been having a brain fart when I wrote that comment. I want to be a librarian too, but I have the wrong qualification. I should have done Information Management and then I would be a librarian.

Well.... I have been laid off in words.. but not in actions yet.

I think with the next job.. I'll look for something on a smaller scale. I used to work in a small office and that gave me more opportunities to do things my way, run the show a bit, and travel.

I've really been missing that.... so I'm considering a move to a small office instead of the giant corporate type of office that I work in now.