I am not a career-oriented person: when I was younger, I didn’t have a driving ambition to Become Something other than a husband & father: a career was simply something I would’ve done to support that vocation. When I was asked as a kid what I wanted to do when I grew up, I’d give various answers — a comic-drawer like Bill Watterson, a radio station DJ, a CIA agent. (The last makes me shudder.) In high school, I did realize an interest in writing and became interested in journalism, but had such poor social skills that I didn’t think it would be possible to pursue that option. This is probably one of the biggest what-ifs of my life — what if I’d pursue that path? Writing is a passion, a hobby, a relentless itch that I have to scratch: this very blog was born in 2007 because of that itch. I rapidly gained social skills in my twenties and would’ve been able to make a go of it, I think — ignoring the collapse of journalism as a profession! Instead, I chose libraries, given my bookish nature, love of history and literature, and desire to help people. In my particular work at the library, though, books almost never enter the picture: it’s more social work meets IT, with the occasional local history question, and frankly it can be draining at times. Because of that, back in 2021 I was actively thinking about a move into IT: I already knew how to build and repair computers, and was studying for the CompTIA A+ exam. Back then I was in a place in life where I felt like getting away from everything (think Jim’s move to Stamford in The Office), and had some idea of going to New Mexico someplace and creating a new life for myself. Instead, in October I nearly died from an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder that had destroyed my kidneys, and in the wake of that drama — the intense support from my community, work, church, family, the toll it and the transplant the next year took on my savings — my dream changed to a commitment to serving the people who had been there for me, now feeling a sense of duty. I’ve continued to pursue IT training — using Coursera and virtual machines to learn things like Active Directory — but more as a backup in case circumstances force me to leave this area. (I also find technical training fun, believe it or not.) Although it would be much easier to find work in that field (especially given that I “do” IT at work now, servicing our computers), it wouldn’t be meaningful like writing or public service are, and I detest the idea of doing something just for money. If I just wanted money, I could drive trucks. Of course, I’ve also been told throughout my life that I’d make a good pastor/monk/priest, including in my college years when I wasn’t even religious! Two of my priests have been second-vocation priests, so one never knows. Perhaps one day I’ll be some Bendictine abbey’s librarian-IT guru, installing Windows 20 while contemplating the Mysteries of the Rosary…
Reading Freely 
I can definitely see you as the monastery’s ‘IT Guy’…. [lol] It could be a retirement plan….!
Whenever I did career tests @ school they’d come back recommending a teaching position. Although just being around me can be an education in itself (as I used to tell the guys at work) that’s really not something that ever interested me.
I think it an alternate life I might have been a Graphic artist. I did well in several artistic competitions at work (usually to design logo’s or promotional posters) and loved being the ‘Design guy’ for my department when the Senior bosses wanted presentation material produced. Later I was the office design SME (Subject Matter Expert) for my team & loved designing room layouts. I even got the opportunity to design entire buildings a few times which was a LOT of fun – especially when my boss said “just be creative”… MUCH fun!
Fun! Do you ever explore that in games? I used to love building homes and businesses in The Sims.
Well, in City Builders (of course). Plus I’m playing ‘Oxygen Not Included’ ATM which is a building/survival game involving a lot of building/planning but on a pretty small scale. Lots of plumbing, electrical and food production… Oh, and *trying* to keep the ‘dupes’ alive! They have ZERO self preservation skills!! Little rascals they are – bless ’em.
I’m tempted by one of those ‘terraform mars’ games, but Fields of Mistria is headed for an update in a few weeks, so I’ll hold off; 😀
It’s always good to have someone with IT knowledge in a library!! I can’t stand IT work myself, just because I’m not the best at it, but it’s great that you are continuing to learn about it.
Journalism is one I thought about in college as well, but the having to “act like an extrovert” thing pushed me away. That, and knowing that I wouldn’t always have interesting assignments (unless I was a freelancer).
That’s true. And, if you’re doing it right, it’s something of an on-call profession: a friend of mine used to be the editor at the local paper, and he had to leave things he wanted to be at because he heard sirens and needed to investigate.
Wow! I’m glad you survived. You are right about journalism. And, given how influenced I was by the strong, independent Benedictine sister who was my Dad’s cousin, I like you end-of-the-post dream job, too!
Thank you! I was very fortunate.