What do I want to be when I grow up?

I will get to the bad bits of school, I promise. But first, it's all about me...and a bit of navel gazing.

You know those people who reckon that even if they won the lottery, they would still go to work? Nup. Not me! I might potter about doing some writing (blogging, novel writing) and maybe some volunteering, but paid employment? Especially full-time paid employment? I'd chuck that baby out with the bath water if I didn't financially have to do it. But financially, I'll be eating two-minute noodles in retirement if I don't work, so it was time to get back into the paid workforce full-time. Plus, I reckon I have some mad skillz, so I should be doing something "worthwhile" with my employment life.

Depending on how well you know me, you may or may not know I have an interesting resume. I've done all sorts of things, not counting my motherly/home duties. I'm talking paid employment. Through the years, I've been a:

• production line worker in a chocolate factory


• receptionist at a marina


• river management officer


• manager of natural resources management and education programs


• environmental policy writer


• wholesale travel agent


• resort manager


• electronics and music retailer


• high school science, maths and dance teacher


• national parks educational ranger


• library assistant


• retail travel agent

And so, with the children happily ensconced in school, I find myself asking one of life's big questions (again) - what do I want to do when I grow up?

You see, at the moment (and I'm not I'm not alone in feeling these feels), I feel as if my life is one big groundhog day of get up, ironing uniforms (mine, his and theirs), organise lunches, nag, yell, go to work, work 10-12 stressful hours a day with about 10 minutes for lunch and not much financial reward, come home (usually via the grocery store and if I'm being honest, Beer Wine and Spirits store), cook dinner, nag about homework, watch whatever Hubby has on the TV, try to go to sleep, lie awake for several hours due to ridiculous female hormones, wake up do it all again. On the weekends, I have laundry, more grocery shopping, and vacuuming to look forward to. If I'm really lucky, I get to clean the bathrooms too! Is this what I wanted when I grew up? No. It is not.

I don't know what it is I want to do with the 15-20 years left of my working life. I do know, John, that I'm not happy. I do know these things:

• In the words of Sweet Charity, "there's gotta be something better than this"


• I want enough money to be comfortable (not rich), to pay for a decent overseas holiday at least once a year (I've got the travel bug)


• I want to do something that means something, not just something that makes money


• I don't want to keep give, give, giving of myself and get not much in return


• I want some time in my life to look after myself better (exercise, healthy food and just some "me" time to do things I enjoy)


• I don't mind being a bit stressed/busy every now and then, but it's not how I want to spend all day every day


• I'm good at lots of things, I'm interested in lots of things,

I need to find what makes ME happy and preferably get properly remunerated, so I can afford to retire. 

Would YOU work if you didn't have to financially?

What would be your dream job?

Do you find it hard to balance everything in your life too (or is that just me?)