What do you do for a living?

[Cami]

I own my own pet sitting and dog walking company. THE BEST job ever. Bar none. I was a hair designer for 22+ years and still do hair on occasion for long time clients, friends/family, up to two days a week but only 4-6 hours at a time. This will end in July 2008.
Pet sitting is rewarding and stressful at the same time. Never have much time for myself or family functions but who goes to work everyday to play with animals and gets paid for it? LOVE IT!!!
My schedule changes on a daily basis and is as flexible as I want it to be. I am home for hours at a time and then out working for a few hours then back home again.....all day long. I get much more time to spend with my own fur-kids and when I am not with them I am loving on someone else's babies.
Being a hair designer for so long was taking it's toll on me physically. The hours were longggggg. The pay was great (self-employed) but I always knew I was meant to do something with pets.
Now I am in far less pain on a daily basis, make more money and work less all while having a blast. I couldn't have done it without my hair cleints. They have had me sitting for their pets for 10+ years. I had ready-made business once I took the plunge and made it all official!
Business is pouring in to the point that I refer 50% of my inquiries elsewhere since I can't handle it all. I need to hire a few folks!

 

[Beau's Mommy]

Right now I'm a mom and full-time student.

 

[Chiefsmom]

I work 24/7 without pay or sick leave, & I get no holidays, but I have the best job in the world, & it makes me smile every day.

Maybe no paid holidays.... but I bet your holidays are the best days in the whole world aren't they??????!!!!!!!

 

[Chiefsmom]

That is what I have always wanted to do, but havent been able to get a job in that area. I have applied for many of them, but cant even get a call back. I thought with my education I would at least get some consideration, but apparently working as a paralegal for 5 years doesnt help me any.

You'd be surprised! don't give up!!!! My education was not in human services either! I actually have a bachelors degree in elementary education (with no special ed. background at all). I work for a national organization, The ARC. Many of them will pay for your education to go back to school! It all depends on where you apply!!!! It's a very rewarding job that certainly keeps you on your toes day after day! There's never a dull moment; and your work days fly by so fast!!!!!

 

[Chiefsmom]

I work for a small non-profit child abuse prevention program. I do home visits with families that considered high-risk for abuse or neglect. Basically we get the families that the state Child Protective Services doesn't have time for, but is afraid to leave unsupervised. :o It's rewarding sometimes and frustrating sometimes. Our agency also offers parenting classes... I don't have kids yet so I've been afraid to try teaching those, our clients would laugh me out of the room when they found out my only "parenting" experience is with a 1 yr old boxer
I only have a few visits each day so I'm home a lot, which is so nice. Only have to be in the office one day a week. Kinda makes up for not making any money And if Grumpy can pass her therapy dog test, she'll be able to come with me to work sometimes!!!!

A very rewarding job you have!!!!!!!!! I end up referring a lot of my people in that direction, as sad as it is to say. And also adult protective services!

 

[Tagsmom]

Some very interesting posts in this thread.

I was a dog groomer for 16 years. Gave it up due to arthritis and a bit of carpal tunnel syndrome. Hard to believe how physically demanding grooming dogs is.

I am now a full-time student in an x-ray program. Learning to take x-rays and dealing with human patients. Not all that much different than dealing with dogs. Just have to be kind and considerate.

I miss being around dogs all day long, miss being able to take my babies to work with me. Being in the profession I am in now is a different kind of physical work, but just as physical as grooming. Fortunately, as a student, I have a lot of time (hours) that I can take off (probably not going to have as much time after I graduate). Can't wait to get my new baby :D Meeting her on July 4.

Candace

 

[MustLuvBoxer]

Yes this is a very interesting post. I love reading about all the interesting jobs.

Wyatt and I are Catastrophe Adjuster. We work as independent contractors working catastrophe insurance claims thru out the United States. We are able to take my pups with us. It's just when we do inspections they have to stay in the truck, they don’t seem to mind. I love my job, being out in different cities working, although sometimes we work 6-12 months straight. But on the off season we are able to do what we want, relax or go on vacations. However we are busy body’s and tend to work even when we are at home and have no "storms" to work.

 

[StormiesMom]

I am blessed to be able to stay home and do all the things I love. I was a homeschool Mom for many years, but now my son is graduated and get to homeschool my dog all day, LOL. I find great joy in caring for my home and husband and cooking, gardening, sewing, etc...
It's low paying, but the benefits are out of this world!

 

[CosmoH]

I'm a 4th year doctoral student in clinical psychology. I'm specializing in "health psychology" which basically is working with people who have a chronic medical illness. I have Crohn's Disease, so that's part of my motivation to help others with similar battles. Thankfully I'm doing pretty well. I see patients who aren't so much. I also approach psychology from the cognitive behavioral model, so all that behaviorism training I've had is really working out well with the puppy :D

I'm a "go back to school" person after fleeing the corporate world after 7 years. I worked for a few different places with that, with my lat 5 years working as a web application developer. The money was great but my mood was not. I don't think I'm cut out for the 9-5 (who am I kidding, 8-8) sit in a cubicle all day and attend ridiculous meetings type person. I'm much happier now. I'm working on my dissertation and will go on internship next fall (2008). I work part time as a faculty assistant, and will have my first adjunct professor job in the fall. My income is non-existent but I'm so much happier And I can psychoanalyze your computer...

 

[ZOE*BOXER]

Yes this is a very interesting post. I love reading about all the interesting jobs.

Wyatt and I are Catastrophe Adjuster. We work as independent contractors working catastrophe insurance claims thru out the United States. We are able to take my pups with us. It's just when we do inspections they have to stay in the truck, they don’t seem to mind. I love my job, being out in different cities working, although sometimes we work 6-12 months straight. But on the off season we are able to do what we want, relax or go on vacations. However we are busy body’s and tend to work even when we are at home and have no "storms" to work.

I wish y'all were my adjusters here in New Orleans after Katrina. We could have had a Boxer playdate. I would love a job like that, the traveling and all.