The Job of Your Dreams We asked Tripod readers to tell us about their dream job, and I expected that many members would respond with little work, great pay, and long vacations. Hell, I can't disagree with RyanP15: The perfect job would be: one with a company Lambourgini (or more easily spelled, a Ferrari) a sexy assistant, no commute, and a great view. The actual job would involve drinking coffee, an occasional dabble in a work-related topic, and the best sleeping. You would get unlimited time off, with paid vacations. But we found that most members, like Roseangeli, would like jobs that allowed a creative outlet and appreciation for the good work that they were doing:

I have no idea what my dream job would end up being...only what this job would do for me. My dream job would be one that I enjoy doing, that doesn't cause a lot of stress, that would allow for me to have a social life, bring in the money, have some greater purpose besides making money, a job where my opinions would be heard, where I'd be respected, one that's not boring, it should have a lot of variety.

Surprisingly, owning your own bookstore was a popular theme:

Flidais: I love books and to be surrounded by them would be fantastic! It wouldn't be a drag to go to work in the morning. While working [as a reference librarian] I would be saving up to buy space to have a little used paperback bookstore!!

ErinDawn: My ideal job would involve owning/running a bookstore, but without having to worry about money. Shelves and shelves filled with classic books, along with a large supply of new and used romance novels.

beq: Like many other people here, I think I'd like to own a cozy little bookstore somewhere, with couches and armchairs and a pot of coffee brewing and a cat. I'd be a freelance writer on the side, writing poetry and short stories for fun and publishing them in magazines, hopefully. It sounds so nice I think I might drop my music major!

And that lucky dog, suzze has already achieved the bookstore dream:

My dream job just happens to be the job I have! I have always thought that working in a bookstore would be the greatest job in the world, and last August I was offered a job as manager of a Mystery Bookstore (even better as I am an avid mystery reader!). This is my first job in YEARS, and it is super! I get to order all the books, and talk books all day with the customers. AND they pay me very well! Who could ask for anything more?

An ever-popular gig was writing. MGoins required that overwhelming success and fame be accompanied with her novel:

While watching my husband dig for artifacts in a remote location of South America, I would sprawl out on a huge blanket under an umbrella and write my "great American novel." This novel would become THE literary work of the new millinium, the kind they force you to read in English 200.

But many of you were satisfied to simply write and get paid for it. No acclaim necessary.

sneeboo: My dream job would be working as a freelance writer in New York. With any luck, my stuff would be so sparkling and witty that I could handle the Rent Factor while I worked on a novel or finished the play I've been trying to wrap up for the last three years.

Vega: Write, write, and write some more. I would love to have the time to research any topic(s) that I chose and then use the information in fiction novels. It is difficult to write something creative while working full-time, but I hope to eventually have something published.

Serena_Giddens: To work at home on my computer, providing service help to others, and make enough money to live comfortably as I work on my novel. To get that novel published, as well as others waiting to be written.

Yeah, books and writing are okay. But where's the excitement? Where's the intrigue? Give me adventure! Count me in when wading into unexplored parts of the Rain Forest, having standoffs with the cattle farmers, and discovering new species. But, alas, a lot of you would be content to work from home doing computer programming, Web design, and site development. The response closest to adventure that I could find was from Spectator:

My dream job would be to conduct research on a National Forest at around 10,000 feet in an alpine meadow, breathing clean air, enjoying the silence (or a good storm), and being miles from any phone, fax, or pager. Trying to get a handle on why Mother Nature works the way she does is pretty humbling, trying to figure it out in a pristine environment is even more daunting. For all the romantics out there... "Wild hearts need wild places."

Whose dream jobs did I find the most scary?

Paul_Nowka:

My dream job would be in genetic research, and I would like to be the first to discover the gene that makes people tell lies! Then I would want to discover how to apply the gene to all living and newborns. There would be no reason for judges and juries after that!

And tisd:

My dream job would be to work for the FBI or the DEA. I just want to make whatever difference I can for my two-year old son and his generation.

There's something about invasive genetic research that gives me the willies. Especially when it borders on behavior control. Hmm... I guess that's why I balk at working for the FBI or DEA. (Me thinks I've been watching too much of the X-Files.)

I thank you all for your feedback. And remember, as caryb said:

Things are NOT always what they appear to be. Some people belong in the limelight, while others belong behind the scenes. If people could TRY Their dream situations for a while, they might change their dream. Life has a way of giving us what we want only after we truly believe it will be ours. For those with DREAMS — hang in there. TIMES ARE CHANGING, and very quickly.

Now won't you contribute to this week's survey?

— Lori Tuckett, editorial assistant