Retirement Career

Just the other day I was talking about changing careers, and today I come across this article on CNN about finding a retirement career that you'll love.  What 'coinkidink'!  J and I were talking about my decision during our morning run yesterday, and through our conversation I realized that I don't ever want to retire at age 40 (I would be so bored out of my mind if I had nothing to do and with no structure in my life), but instead work 'through' my retirement years doing something I enjoy even if it means downshifting.  J and I are fortunate enough to have saved prodigiously during our working years to permit this kind of opportunity.  Now the hard part is to decide whether I want to be a protection vs. interpretive park ranger.  The future is already looking brighter...

Life Is Too Short

For the last several years I've been debating what to make of my life.  I have been very fortunate and privileged to be able to do what I do now.  However, to be brutally honest my heart was never really into my profession.  In retrospect, the path leading to where I am today was already paved for me after I graduated from high school, and I simply took the easy route and walked down that road.  
In hindsight I wish I had been brave enough to veer off and explore what I really wanted to do.  Even in the past few years I have entertained the idea of leaving my current profession and doing something else, but what kept holding me back were thoughts such as "I'll work a few more years until we have enough saved for retirement", "life is on autopilot and comfortable right now, I'm afraid to rock the boat", or "what a waste of an education if I stop now".  Sure I've told myself several times in the past, "life's too short to be doing something I don't enjoy", but I obviously didn't truly comprehend it because I kept trucking along down that same road I so desperately want to deviate from.  However, today while in the shower I had a eureka moment, like a light switch just suddenly went on, and I got it!  Life IS too short. 
So I've decided that I will quit my job on 12/31/2011 (that's when my certification is up) and hopefully land a job with the National Park Service.  I had always wanted to work outdoors, and had entertain the thought of being a park ranger off and on for a few years after my first visit to the Grand Canyon, but never pursued it.  Then I came across this piece on CNN that piqued my interest again.  I'm well aware that I'll probably start somewhere not so glamorous like working the toll booth at a city beach, but I figured if I stick around long enough with NPS, I may eventually get to become a park ranger in the Grand Canyon or Yosemite.  So there you have it folks.  Yes, mom and dad probably won't approve it, but you know what?  It's my life, and it's way too short to be living with regrets.

My Schizophrenic Self

For the past year, I've had my heart set on not re-certifying after my board certification is up at the end of next year because I didn't want to take the test again.  In the meantime I've been trying to figure out what I could do other than medicine.  

• Go to vet school?  No, too many years of schooling, plus I don't think I'd get in.  
• Be a vet tech?  I'd be able to get in, but it's another 2 years.  
• Go back into radiology residency?  Too many long hours.  
• Retire?  It's no fun if J's still working.    
• Continue to practice without being re-certified?  Have been having nightmares about what I would do after losing certification.  
• Be a house wife?  I'd rather be skinned alive than cook.

Finally, I decided the path of least resistance was to grin & bear it, take the damn test, and get re-certified.  Sucks balls, but it seems like the easiest way out.  So this whole year of internal wrangling and debating had all been for naught.  


I can't really complain too much about my job (aside from some of the questionable characters that walk into the office), because where else can I find another job that allows me to tell the staff to block the first half an hour on certain mornings so that I can get my morning runs in.  Plus I have to admit that I do feel a sense of obligation to some of my patients, and would not want to leave them high and dry without a PCP if I do exit the field early, especially when there's already a shortage of primary care doctors.

Wrong Field

CareerPath.com has a color career counselor test, and based on your color preference, the test gives you an idea of what type of careers best suit your personality.  I fall in the 'Creator' category: 'Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional'.  
Suggested careers for these type of people include: Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.  
This is interesting, because had I not gone to medical school I would have definitely gone for architecture or interior designing.  At this point, I don't think I want to go through another 4 years of schooling and additional years of internship in architecture.  Perhaps I'll pick up photography. Something to think about...

Dilemma

I got an email message from a recruiter regarding a job position that pays twice what I'm getting now, with a sign on bonus.  The catch is, it's located an hour and a half away from where we live.  I'm tempted because I figured, if I'm only planning to work for 3 more years before 'retiring', I might as well make & save as much as I can.  However, on the other hand, if I do end up with the position, that would mean hardly any free time for running, going to the gym, and watching Kdrama on weekdays, because the commute would take up an extra 2 hours everyday.  J was talking about the possibility of moving closer, but I'm so sick of moving, and I love where we live right now.  I'm sure the other position would also mean a lot more hours and a busier schedule, as I currently only work 36 hours a week with a relatively light schedule.  The question is, how hard does this slacker want to work?