I'm not unemployed, but I'm employed in the wrong industry. For the last five years I've wanted to return to nonprofit administration--the right opportunity eluded me, and well, life goes on in the insurance biz.

So today I had a job interview. Everything was amazing: wonderful people, amazing location, beautiful physical plant (restored estate house!), interesting work for a noble cause (environmental preservation), schedule flexibility, and on and on.

But the money just wasn't there. I'd have had to take not only a 25% cut in salary but also pay 90% of my own health insurance premiums and 100% for my kids. And forget about bonuses or 401K contributions. :rolleyes

So I feel like a sellout, after having wanted this for so long. I spent 15 years working for a nonprofit so I know about tight budgets. But we've been free of the need to pinch every penny for a while now and I just don't want to go back there.

My current job is not bad, but it's nothing I'd like to make a career out of. Yet time being the way it is, I'll turn around in 10 years and find out that's exactly what I did.

Three years from now, someone remind me that I don't really like my job, OK? Thanks!

Well, I'm not doing what I want to be doing either. Worked hard to get a degree(single mom of two....married....single mom of three) and worked for a year, got sick-had to leave my job.....ended up getting married again(to a wonderful guy) found a job, worked for a year and got sick again. Now, I am subbing and fighting with the insurance company so that I can really be healthy. 60,000 dollars in student loans, medical bills out the wazoo, and 4 kids-don't leave me much choice. I need a good paying job with group insurance and I need it now. My husband is in the same position. He started working for a plumbing company while he was in school to be a Physical Therapist and the next thing you know IT IS ten years later and he is a licenced plumber and he can't afford to change because his wife can't get a job that pays enough. It's funny how things go. Not funny Ha Ha-but funny weird. I really believe that most people are performing JOBS that they really wouldn't have chosen for themselves. I always said that if I HAD to work- I wanted to be a stay at home mom like my mom-I wanted to do something that made a difference in the world. That was why I chose teaching but you know the truth is, we don't have to work a certain career to make a difference. If we are loving parents, children, and friends we are making a difference. Ryan is right, each of you that come here and provide support, love, and friendship are making a difference. I think in my case you might have saved me from myself. I love you all!

Y'all know what? You're basically kids and this career is just one step in a long path before you. I didn't get to do the job I really wanted to do until I was 47. I ended up retiring beofre I had done it for ten years, but I did it well enough to get pretty good at it and it was a good gig.

You will continue to take care of business and your kids (and errant husbands) and learn many helpful things along the way...it's all just part of the program. Your time will come. If you get there too soon, you won't appreciate it, and you won't bring enough life experiences to the table with you!

Sue

Uh, gee, thanks, Sue, I think -- I'm 47 myself and still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. My photo's too small and underexposed to show my crow's feet and silver hair! Yeah, no one should take their "careers" too seriously. Most of us have a series of jobs rather than a real career, anyway.

I feel like I'm going to hit my stride at 50. . . always thought I was a late bloomer, but maybe I've just been gathering life experiences.

I just had a career change recently. I used to work as a technical consultant, Great pay but no benefits what so ever. Everything was paid out 1099, so basically I was self employed.

Well with the recent tech bust, I decided I needed to find another field of work. I now work in the Mohegan Sun casino, the pay isn't all that great. But I got full benefits, a 401 k and a retirement plan. 4 weeks paid holidays and 2 bonuses a year and Double pay on major holidays. Soon I will be a Dealer and be making around $20/$25 dollars a hour. The good part is that as a Dealer I only have to work 6 hours and get paid for 8 because I will get 20 minutes break every hour.

I have much more fun working here and get to meet so many different people every day. I enjoy this life style much more then back when I was in new york.