Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Monday, December 9
One that doesn't feel like a job, where I can't believe someone is actually paying me to do the work because it's so damn much fun.
I'll know it when I see it.
People think I'm nuts when I say this, but I want to work at a day care center or as a pre-school teacher, and, although not this semester, have been taking classes for such. Unfortunately, it's not a good paying career, though none of my other, less realistic dream jobs (muse, glass-blower, independent contractor specializing in laying about listening to music all day, etc.) pay any better.
I recently had a conversation with someone who went from managing a restaurant with a bar, to owning a bar (without a restaurant). they way he described it sounded like a dream job - sitting around drinking and socializing, but without all the work involved in managing everything else that goes with feeding people.
For me, I've always thought mountain/nature guiding would be a dream job, as long as the clients aren't overly energetic or adventuresome.
I want to work for a nonprofit arts or environmental or feminist organization, preferably doing something that will save the world (or at least help some people). And I'm going to grad school now to make this dream a beautiful reality.
Gameshow host.
Working for no one but myself! I want to start-up a "creative agency"-- a multifarious design-based firm that would run the design gamut to include graphics, products, interfaces, and beyond. Maybe we can foray into some strategy, selected advertising, and some general creative advising. This is both my dream and my ultimate career goal, and I hope to pursue it with the next 5-10 years. I can't wait to start making decisions, forming a team of talented and cool people, building a studio, developing an identity, cultivating a culture, taking on projects, and creating something out of nothing.
Full-time poet. But no one really gets to do that. I've been through 2 master's programs to help me find a way to do it and I'm still stuck in a 9 to 5. These days, I'm just trying to keep writing poems every week, writing book reviews when I can, and workshopping long distance with old friends from my programs.
I have a few dream jobs and they change based on what mood I am in. Here they are:
1) Web Designer / Web Programmer - I sorta do this already but mostly on a freelance basis. I do get paid occasionally, but steady paying work is tough to find! I'm currently brushing up on my HTML, XML, CSS, PHP, mySQL, JS, and all that noise so hopefully I'll have a decent resume for employers.
2) Bicycle Messenger - I think I can probably manage to get this job. I like riding my bike and I figure that riding it all over the city is probably about as good as it can get. I ride my bike a lot already so this dream is just a pedal-stroke away.
3) House-Husband - I just want to stay at home with the kids and clean the house. If anyone knows any rich women who want to fund my exploration into this field I'd be really stoked if you pointed them in my direction.
4) Spinning/Gym Instructor - I like the gym. I spend a lot of time in the gym. It would be nice to get paid to spend a lot of time in the gym. I'm preparing to get my pre-instructor certification on the 4th of April so this is coming along pretty well. We'll see how far I can get with it.
are you kidding me? rock star! or maybe rap star. but definitely not a rap/rock star.
i think i also always wanted to own a bar because then i could comp myself drinks and be in charge of the jukebox. or possibly hire a bar band that would play "rich girl" by hall and oates at my beck and call. when that falls through: hunter s. thompson.
one addenndum to my gameshow host dreams. Not a gameshow host of todays "extreme" gameshows. neigh! we're talking Bob Eubanks, Burt Convy, or Wink Martindale era gameshow host. That's the life.
Video Game Playtester. And it's almost impossible to have that job outside of the SF Bay Area.
I just got rejected from my dream job. I sent my resume to the White Sox applying for a spot in the starting rotation, but they said the position was filled. Have they seen Danny Wright pitch?
I want to be Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle -- an upside-down house full of kids, lots of cookies, and license to play dress-up all day long.
Fiction writer. Wanted to do it, I now realize, from roughly the age of seven, but only over the past year or so have I seriously been doing anything about it. I finally have a first draft written of a novel that I had been kicking around in my head for several years, and several finished short stories. My amateur status remains intact, however (i.e., as of yet, nobody's paying me to write).
The trick is to find the time to write (and rewrite, and rewrite some more) while working a full-time job to financially support my family--and also having plenty of quality time with the family rather than hermiting myself up in the basement slugging away at a fifth draft.
It's all a very delicate balancing act, one that I'm far from mastering so far.
Suzie Homemaker. I'm a traditionalist and want to be able to raise my children full time. I love to cook and clean and sew.
Until then I would love to be a floral designer or a muralist, or really any sort of creative job. A steady (albeit small) paycheck is currently keeping me tied into a job completely void of creativity. I've been looking for something new, but to no avail.
I want to be a technology teacher who is also an amazing web designer and architectural photographer. Plus I run a cookie business on the side.
A partial list:
1.A philanthropist
2.Travel writer
3.Trainer of seeing-eye dogs
So far I write,travel, and really like dogs. The philanthropy is on hold until I come across the money.
Call me unambitious, by my aspirations have been systematically lowered by this garbage economy for the past couple of years. My fantasy is to have *a job*, any job, as long as it doesn't involve serving food or coffee.
my dream job is some magical combination of
1.Artist/Gallery Owner,
2.Globe-Trotting Gadabout,
3.Caterer,
4.Graphic Designer, and
5.Professional Lover of Cute Puppies.
so far i've only got the last two going for me. you have to start somewhere.
Geeze ... I think about this every day. If I had to choose one gig, I think I'd be a magazine publisher. No wait--more specifically, I'd like to be George Plimpton. But, you know, alive.
Actually, barring Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, I want to be the artistic director of a theater company that does good plays and stays in the black. Moved a step closer last night when my good friend and I decided to try to put up a show this summer...now we just need to raise the funds. Yikes.
I, too, have had many ideas for my perfect career. They are:
1) Kept woman
2) Glassblower
3) Pastry chef
4) Ear, nose, and throat doctor
5) Dentist
6) Strongman competition winner
7) Plumber
8) Mechanic
9) Interior designer
10) Cat
Oh, and "kept man."
For a while, (I just remembered about this pre-grad school idea), my dream job was either to be a Personal Shopper or Professional Puppy Picker-Outer (like picking the best of the litter for people). I just like playing with puppies.
At times I've desperately wanted to be a gay florist. I've also wanted to run a cafe named "Cafe Travolta" that would have pictures of John on the tables. And then maybe one day he would visit, and it would be nice.
I like my job now. If I did get my dream job, I'd just find something else to bitch about, so what good would that do me?
Yep, that's my boyfriend the gay florist. Yep.
Hrrrmm. My lofty goals:
1/artist (glass-blowing, furniture maker or mixed media)
2/architecture restorationist
3/journalist
4/own a small shop dedicated to recycling vintage pieces
5/some sort of nature guide
6/a small ad agency using 'real' people rather than models
7/anything involving film production
8/professor
professional blog-poster?
I'm living my dream job....working at a music school, teaching, performing, singing, playing guitar, recording, working with kids and being around 200 artists all day. Who knew I could make a living doing what I love?
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What're you drinking?
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What's your reaction to the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act?
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Chicago Street Fairs: Revolting or Awesome?
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Be real: what is the meanest thing you've ever done?
miss ellen / March 9, 2004 2:47 PM
i always wanted to own / operate a restaurant (preferably with a bar).
growing up doing my time in food service, and having a business background, i always saw this as something interesting; lots of people connections, lots of interesting stories, but tons of hard work.