What should I be when I "Grow Up"?

We've been told all our lives to "do whatever makes us happy" and/or to "pursue a career that interests you". We spend 12-18 years of our lives in school, where we are supposed to be preparing for the workforce and the " adult life". For some, this is easy. For me, however, I was not one of those children that knew they wanted to be a doctor when they were 10, or chose a path in high school and took classes accordingly. Shoot, I still have no idea, at 25 years old, what I would enjoy doing to bring in a paycheck for the rest of my life. I'm to the point where I need to decide, do I pursue another degree and work a job in an office like 80% of America, or do I branch out and try to pursue a hobby that I enjoy?

" Do something you like!" "You can do anything you put your mind to." 

Ok, um...I like to... Well crap. What do I like doing? What am I good at? 

I like to take pictures.

I like to travel.

I like to cook and bake.

I like to play tennis.

I like to watch baseball.

I like to play vintage video games.

I like to read.

I like to write.

I like to quilt.

I like to eat food.

Alright, so I can think of a few things I like doing. However, let's break it down even more. 

I like to take pictures...of landscapes. I don't think I would be patient enough to try to photograph people and families. I'm no professional, and let's be honest, the market for things like event photographers and freelance photography in general, is a fierce competition. There are 1,000 photographers to 500 events. You have to be superb to even get your name into the ring for anything that might actually pay you. Not to mention the pay wouldn't be steady. So, a hobby it will remain. 

I like to travel. Ok, I LOVE to travel. I have yet to find someone to sponsor me to travel the world for them. I'm not holding by breath on this one. I'll just jeep doing as much traveling as I can, as far as I can, for as long as I can. I will see the world or die trying. 

I like to cook and bake....for my friends and husband. No way would I like doing it all day every day like if I was to have my own restaurant or bakery. If I had my own bakery, I'd weigh 400 pounds. It wouldn't be good for my health :) 

I like to play tennis and watch baseball. I have played tennis since I was 7 years old. I've missed the prime for "making it big" in tennis, as most of the new athletes competing in Wimbledon are 17/18years old. I'm too old :( also I wouldn't want to train for 8 hours every day and be away from my family for months at a time to play tournaments. Also, watching baseball isn't going to be a money maker. If anything it costs me money to buy tickets to watch it! 

I like to play vintage video games. No Xbox, playstation, none of that. We have a Nintendo (NES) and I am the tetris master. And the master duck hunt-ist. 

I like to read. Anyone pay me to read books all day? Nope? Didn't think so. 

I like to write..about me. Things I've done, places I've went, etc.  I have kept a journal since the 2nd grade. Ive had it in the back of my mind that one day when i get old, i might like reading about the silly things in my day to day life? Confession time, I've toyed with the idea of trying to write a book (fictional, probably some kind of love story/comedy or a girl who has lots of mishaps in her daily life) I've also thought about writing a devotional book for teens.

 However, when I started researching publishers and all that it takes to even be CONSIDERED is ridiculous. And many publishers want you to have a masters in English or a literature discipline. And I am not studying "literature" for 6 years of my life to maybe have a book considered for publishing. 

I like to quilt. Occasionally. When in get a cool idea. Not something I would have the patience for to do all day. I have made a T-shirt quilt, and three regular quilts since I was 18. So...in 7 years I've produced a whopping 4 quilts. If I'm not inspired to do it, I don't. Not a good prospect for a job.

 I've thought about putting it out there that I can make T-shirt quilts, as those are "in" right now, but at the same time, I don't want to mess up someone else's clothes that they are wanting to preserve. And what if I don't do a design that they like, or ultimately what if I put all this time into making a quilt and they don't like it at the end? I don't think I could handle that. 

I like to eat food. Yeah, if someone could just pay me to eat like they do on the travel channel, that'd be great. But I'm NOT going to eat any of those 'bizzare foods'. 

Ah..ultimately, I can't complain about a single thing. I have a roof over my head, that 'roof' has air conditioning and a dishwasher :) ,  a husband that I love, friends, both my family and my in-laws, a job to go to, clean water to drink, and food on my table. If this is the most pressing thing that I have to think about-- it's going to be just fine.

 So I'm 25 and don't have a career yet. Oh well! I'm going to just keep doing what I'm doing for now. 

........Until my husband gets through school and gets an amazing job where he can work remotely from home. And he will make so much money that I won't have to work and can spend evey day eating bon-bons in my candle-lit jacuzzi..on the beach. Private beach. You know what, make that my own island. And I want my groceries flown in to me every week so that I never have to leave. Friends and certain family can come visit through our underwater secret tunnel. And Micah will have a lair inside our island's dormant volcano. It will be called the man-cano. Like a man cave, but waaaay cooler. Yeah, this is totally going to happen. Never mind, problem solved.