In most ways, I’d say that I have my dream job. I mean… I make and take pictures of doughnuts and cookies for a living. I had no idea that was even a possibility for me when I was in college writing essays about the Harlem Renaissance. No idea. I feel lucky to combine my love of dough and words here on this blog. If you want me to talk about the Harlem Renaissance we can, though my essay writing abilities aren’t as polished. A topic sentence?… please don’t make me do it.
I’m living in my dream job. Some days it feels like more job than dream… but that’s just the nature of having tasks to do. Because I’m greedy and have a healthy day-dreaming imagination, I entertain several daydream dream jobs in my mind. You should see what a good drummer I am in my mind’s eye. I’m amazing, but you’ll have to take my word for it.
A Daydream Dream Job is a job that you often picture yourself doing, free of the boundaries of age, lifestyle, and actual skill or ability. It’s out there, and so what!?
Other than the current dream job, where I photograph doughnuts on my living room floor, here are a few of my most daydreamed dream jobs. They range from ridiculous, to just… head-shaking no:
โข Dream Job 1: Backup dancer for a Beyonce. In my mind backup dancers strike a lot of poses, wear bright red lipstick, and have flamboyant but supportive dance moves. Essentially, I’d like to dance next to the spotlight and be Beyonce’s cheerleader. Unfortunately I don’t have long hair to whip around, my body doesn’t twerk, and I incorporate way too much thumb into my dance moves.
โข Dream Job 2: Anonymous advice column author. My advice would be a cross between my mom, the cashier at the grocery with purple hair and the most epic acrylic nails, and this guy. Essentially my advice would be a string of ‘giirrrlll, don’t play’ statements and affirmations.
โข Dream Job 3: A drummer. My dream job is to be the drummer for the Foo Fighters. I know, the Foo Fighters already have an excellent drummer. That’s no problem, I want to BE Taylor Hawkins. Specifically, I want to be Taylor Hawkins playing The Pretender. I basically AM Taylor Hawkins when I’m driving alone in my car blasting that song. Again, you’ll have to take my word for it. (I’m shaking my head no… I’m awful).
โข Dream Job 4: An ER Doctor alongside Anthony Edwards, Noah Wiley, and youthful George Clooney. I want to be an ER doctor among the original cast of the 90’s television drama ER. Don’t worry, this is a totally realistic dream job. You’re right, pipe dream. How about I just be Juliana Margulies before she goes to med school? Good dream job compromise? I thought so. (I confident that only two of you reading this have any idea what I’m talking about. I can’t help the specificity of my daydreams.)
Tell me tell me! What’s your daydream dream job? Does it involve Beyonce? Probably a little bit.
141 Responses
I want to do a salad truck for the area where I live. There aren’t enough quality fresh salad places and there’s a high demand and plenty of hevaily concentrated business areas. I’d start with salads and add soups in fall/winter and take it from there. Simple, quality product for less than what they are charging elsewhere.
I think my Daydream Dream Job is pretty practical. I want to be an awesome, bad-ass photographer. I want to be sought after, desired and celebrated. That’s how good I want to be. I want to capture amazing, breathtakingly beautiful moments for families. BUT…I’d also love to be called on for magazine features, fashion and modeling and even work across the world photographing wildlife, landscapes, ancient ruins, unique cultures, extreme sports, vacation spots. I’d love photography to take me around the world to capture it’s most beautiful sights. That…would be awesome. -Misty
I love your 4. I don’t want to be an ER doc — too much blood. But working alongside Noah Wylie? Yessss!
I’m a little late to add but I’ve been thinking about my dream jobs since I read this a few days ago and figured why not add since it has been thought provoking….
1. Pop Up Bake shop owner
2. Middle Reader book author, around 2-4 grade
3. Farmer of exotic herbs. Think cumin grown in a lemon grove so it has the essence of lemon, etc. 4. Secret Agent
Maybe it’s time to work on some of these while I do my SAHM job as well as a part-time job. I feel like I’m both but if I carve out some time to practice the others it may make it better for everything but my waistline!
Oh my gosh, the ER doctor got me! When I was in my last year of high school I kept saying to my mother, ‘I think I’ll apply for nursing’ and she said ‘you only say that on Fridays because ER is on on Thursdays Meg – nursing isn’t just Carol Hathaway, there’s a lot of cleaning up old people too you know’ (it should be noted that I loved Dr Carter more than Clooney’s character).
Nowadays I write public policy, but think my dream job would be in the costume department for some kind of BBC period dramaโฆ
I feel like I’m living it… cooking for farmer’s in Saskatchewan, Canada… 12-15 farmer’s out there and I get to cook and deliver meals to them… and blog about it…
Joy, we need to be best friends I have always said my dream job is being a Beyonce backup dancer, no word of a lie. It’s like my tagline. You are great.
Travel blog writer, with the hubs as the photographer.
Oh, Joy! I AM an ER doctor, and I want to quit my job and be you! I don’t look nearly as fabulous in scrubs as, well, anyone on the TV. And the more of your recipes I make, the more true that is!
let’s trade for a day! (worst idea ever…)
My daydream dream job would be:
1) international shopper
2) restaurant reviewer
3) the Next Terry Gross (maybe an actual real dream job โย I used to work in public radio)
4) YA book reviewer
5) working right alongside with you, Noah Wyle, George Clooney, and Anthony Edwards
6) a gig at Empire Records (damn the man!)
OMG! I love this! I especially love #2. I think I could do that job as well and I think I would say this a lot” Yassssss.” LOL! And I totally remember ER so I get it! I hated it when the cast changed and when it finally went off the air. *tear*. My dream job would definitely be to bake and write about it for a living. An outlandish dream job would be to have a podcast to talk about current events with my own spin on it. Anonymously, of course. :-)
Easy: Librarian for a children’s lit collection, like the University of Minnesota. I did a case study on it in library school and fell in love. Number 2 would be a food-related library or archive.
Sadly, my current job has zero to do with being a librarian, much less cool libraries!
This is such a great post! I actually love my current job, an Event Manager for a Convention Center. But in my daydreams I’d; a) own a beautiful winery in the Santa Maria foothills, b) work for a high end boutique hotel chain and go open up all their properties in exotic locations, c) be a Broadway star.
Ahhh daydreaming about dream jobs. My specialty.
1. I’m gonna go all pipe dream here and say pop star, but seriously, that would be amazing seeing as how I’m a pretty awesome shower singer but that’s about it.
2. Neonatologist. I’ve actually always really wanted to be a preemie baby doctor. I actually do work in the NICU now but not as an MD. A girl can dream…
3. Own my own little bakery with 4-5 specialty cupcakes a day and be known for my fantastic frosting because I’m a frosting girl at heart:)
What a fun dream job list Joy! You are best where you are though. Your talent with words, smiles and food all meld nicely right here.
I dream of being an astronaut (interstellar geologist), of being in charge of the Mineral Collection at the Smithsonian, of being an environmental attorney for EarthJustice or Sierra Club or the NRDC, of being able to create the art in my head (stained glass, tile mosaic, clothing, wood and metal sculpture), or of just being able to do the work I so loved once again – Environmental Compliance. I was great at it and I loved it. But it also made me sick and disabled. So now, I just dream of breathing freely and walking and cooking and dancing like I used to…
You basically have my daydream dream job. I know you already know how lucky you are, and it’s totally fine that you don’t love every single minute of it. Anything you HAVE to do can suck sometimes. Keep creating. I love it! I also frequently daydream about working at NPR, so if you ever run into Ira Glass, put in a good word for me.
Is there such a thing as a Professional Puppy Cuddler? If so…that’s what I want to do. I imagine a life full of puppies (particularly rescue puppies) would be a very happy one.
Actress – if only i could get the whole “cry on command” thing down, i’d be solid (or at least i dream that i would be)
ballerina – if only i wasn’t clumsy and the exact opposite of graceful. but i do a mean pirouette in my kitchen.
opening a small bakery/cafe in Gruene (a small touristy town in Texas) – money and the lack of stability and continuity is what makes this a day dream… but maybe someday!
anything and everything involving Ed Westwick.
My dream jobs would be to travel all over the world trying out tons of fabulous travel bags and accessories while being able to make a living by selling my dog treats..and a few human treats as well….traveling around in my food truck with said treats and flowers while setting up rescues for dog, cats and pot bellied pigs!
A little bit late to the party…but my dream job would be to own a children’s book store. I would hold classes on how to illustrate or become a comic strip author, maybe even host an annual festival where famous children’s book authors come and read. Of course, there would be an awesome puppet section with shows every week! Not sure it’s even a dream that is feasible but it’s nice to ponder.
As someone who will probably go the traditional job route once I’m out of college, living Tim Ferris’s 4 Hour Workweek is a big dream for me! I constantly fantasize about what that would be like. To own a small online business and optimize every little bit of it? Amazing. My inner nerd / business lady would be so pleased.
But if we’re really going for the most crazy, incredible daydream jobs? I would love to travel the world as an adventure photographer. Adventure photographer? Is that even a thing? I just want to photograph far away lands and people and animals and foods.
Also, I wish I could be a singer! I’m a horrible singer in real life, but I imagine myself being awesome on stage in fantasy world.
A cookie baker which I actually am :) check out my website, you’re a great inspiration. Greetings from Ecuador. http://www.biscottigalletas.com
I would love to own a bakery shop geared towards young moms and their children. Maybe one day! For now I’m just baking at home.
Oh yes! This is so me! I daydream about my dream job all the time! I want to have my own ice cream shop someday. There’s a waterfront near where live where the top floor is a home and the ground floor is a shop. They’re beautiful. And the waterfront is beautiful. It’s my dream home and dream job in one!
I really think dreams are so important to a happy life.
Oops! I forgot to leave my URL: tidbitsfromtrina.blogspot.com
When I was young my dream job was to own a magazine and a restaurant and to work in both of them at the same time. Now I am a food blogger, which I really enjoy. However blogging is still not my job but just a hobby. My daydream job have transformed into: becoming a successful blogger and developing recipes and cake designs for clients… I still keep daydreaming :)
i love this. hmm let’s see. i have a dream job where i am a famous, or at least rich, writer living italy and going to food markets all day. i have a dream job where i am a midwife helping poor ladies pump their babies out safely. i have a dream job where i am dana scully from the x-files. i have a dream job where i am a food blogger and get paid money to do it!
I have ny dream job — retirement!
you’re doing it right!
I barely ever respond to posts but when I read your post I had to share.. My son is 13yrs old and a drummer and Taylor Hawkins is his idol. As is Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters.. Check out this video of him.. https://youtu.be/8i746x-4dSw
Would love to do what you do as my dream job… Or when my son tours with The Foos be his tour manager!
What a fun idea! I, too, aspire to be an anonymous advice column author :) I’d also love to travel around the world researching cultural happy hours. Good times!
May I be totally honest? As my boyfriend has heard me say about a hundred times now, my daydream dream job includes moving to New York with my red cat (he has the Tron cookie-eater gene in him) and blogging about all sugary things, possibly having cake-eating neighbours to give them to). To be fair, you’re living it: and I could see you as a drummer you know! In fact, you rock, so.. Inevitable!
Keep up this amazing blog, we owe you for all our daily smiles on the internet
Ideally, I’d be starring in my own sitcom. I’d be quirky, but real. Think Zooey Deschanel meets Megan Mullally as Karen Walker meets Kaley Cuoco as Penny.
Runner-up choices: research chemist (no, really!), or running my own ever-so-charming pastry shop.
I have a stack of daydream jobs, and now I have a name for them! Thanks Joy! Here are a few of them, in no particular order.
Own and run my own B&B or small motel. I’ve wanted to do this since I was a kid, as I stayed in a lot of motels with my dad on holidays. I always thought being in charge of one would be fun. You can decorate however you like and it’s your job to make people feel comfortable and relaxed.
A 9-5 office job. I know this is a weird one, but I’ve only ever worked in retail and I’ve always kind of wondered what it would be like to work on an office. In my head it’s all fun morning teas and boring meetings and sitting at your desk all day, but I still want to try it out!
A 1950s style housewife. I just think it would be so great if I could keep on top of the housework and always have nice meals ready when my partner gets home from work and bake apple pies all the time. The only thing that’s stopping me is that I hate, hate, hate housework and have become very good at actively avoiding it!
Now I’m off to unload the dishwasher and run the robot vacuum through the halls. Ah, the future is amazing!
Hahahaha I love your answers. I can totally see you doing any of those jobs!
Let’s see, my daydream jobs would be A) movie star (even though I can’t act), B) a pop-star (even though I sing worse than I act), and C) a winner on So You Think You Can Dance (I danced as a kid so now I think I still can, even though I couldn’t really then).
Daydream jobs:
1) Badass party DJ – the one that everyone wants to hire for their weddings and events because I’m that good. (This is a ridiculous ambition because if I was asked to mix music for a party, we’d be listening to the potently and patently bizarre mixture of early-2000s indie rock, 1950s do-wop, and 80s power ladies.)
2) Sardonic barista.
3) Personal assistant, a la “Miranda girl” – be the do-this, fetch-that, coordinate-these lackey for a big’n’important person. I am among the world’s most earnest people-pleasers, and this would be an amazingly exhausting application of those skills.
4) Organic produce farm help. Backbreaking labor appeals to me in a big way (especially after years of sitting at a desk and becoming a slug).
5) Cardiological rehab specialist, or, more generally,
6) Exercise instructor for geriatrics.
this thread is great. I was going through my emails and it was your post which brought me back Cayla. great jobs still had more to read of these. also liked elsewhere marine creature trainer and Canadian JK Rowling but your DJ, Barista and PA great stuff +1
Yes, I love list-making, Joy!
Move to England. Get my PhD in English Lit. Get awesome tenured gig.
OR
Move to Amsterdam and be a travel writer.
AND
Open a b&b writers’ retreat in the countryside (on my bucket list, and may actually happen!)
My dream job would be to own a really exclusive bar or restaurant where people would need a strict invite to enter. Obviously, everyone would want to enter but they just can’t without an invite.
My dream job is definitely to be a back up dancer to JT or Queen Bey. When I’m not watching myself dance. I am every bit as good as either one. I always do these hip hop routines to work out when my boyfriend isn’t home and I’m convinced I’m totally qualified.
Tree surgeon! That’s the UK term. Arboriculturalist?
In first grade we had to draw a picture of what we wanted to be when we grew up. I drew myself in front of an ice cream truck. I would drive the truck as well as sample all the ice cream. I think it’s still a pretty good daydream dream job. My adult daydream dream job is to be a personal shopper for someone really fabulous and rich.
I would love to be a yoga teacher living in London!
I’m retired and no longer concerned with a “dream job.” I do what I like to do…cooking when I feel like it, drawing, painting, sewing, crocheting, soon to be chicken-raising. But….when you mentioned the docs on E.R. my mind traveled back and stayed there for a long time. Clooney…oh my! This decade has been kind of the same because I got hooked on Gray’s Anatomy. Dr. McDreamy and Dr. McSteamy….sigh. I can’t believe McDreamy is gone!
My daydream dream job would be: extremely successful and also inspirational and profound best selling novelist who travels to see friends and family regularly and run marathons in 3 hours, has a stunning home garden that is photographed and also sustains her kitchen, and whose hair is perfectly scrunched, not weird, and I speak extra languages. Don’t care which because I’m not greedy. And I can do a back handspring again.
Joy,
I’m a first grade teacher, which I LOVE, but it’s so hectic and crazy that during the school year my daydream dream job is to get paid to lay on a couch, eat M&Ms and read voraciously. Know anyone who is hiring??
This is the best string of comments! I actually never dream about this sort of thing (I am a little too practical, maybe), so I love seeing what comes up for others.
But, some things come to mind. Bed and breakfast owner, for the hospitality and the ability to make people comfortable and happy. Construction worker, as I’m always fascinated by the machinery and the act of making things. COO of a big art museum, since I like making things work and art is my passion. Maybe this is why I don’t say dream – I have such divergent interests!
Latey I’ve been doing some fierce day dreaming about where to live though, which I know you can relate to . . .
I want be to the Canadian version of J.K. Rowling and write books that capture the imagination of kids and their parents. The best part would be an ongoing reading series where I get to travel to local libraries and read chapters of series to the patrons. Ideally on rainy afternoons where everyone gets their own comfy chair and mug of hot chocolate.
Daydream job #1: Star in Thom Yorke’s next music video. This could happen since I have a degree in modern dance, but I have yet to figure out how to successfully contact Thom Yorke and make him think I’m cool. Daydream job #2: open a bakery named after my great grandmother… I’m thinking “Betty Jean Bakery” and we’d have to sell strawberry cake and yellow cake with caramel icing. And peanut butter fudge.
Daydream job #3: Literallu become Meryl Streep. Can that count as a job?
Gosh, I love this post. I’m a 40 year old stay at home mom who used to be a nurse in my 20’s, then graduated top of my class in international pastry at 35 and still don’t know where I’m going or what I want to do. But I got day-dream jobs down pat. Starting by being a backup singer for Adele or perhaps Ella King, totally could rock that! Then there’s the whole owning/running a fabulous Scotland B&B for the summer months, then traveling through Europe(especially Germany) during the winter months. And then there’s the women who compete for the Crossfit championship……man, I so want to do that. But I love butter, sugar, fat etc. too much. Imagination gets me through!
You are awesome! Love this post. Also, I heart original ER!
I want to work at MARTHA STEWART doing either CRAFTS or in the TEST KITCHEN! But I’m old and that’s just NEVER going to happen. Gotta stick with what I know and have done my entire working life – neckwear designer with my hubs. WAAAAAH!
I have had the opportunity to do amazing things in my work life (sat at a piano with Maya Angelou; cooked breakfast for Julia Child; raised two outstanding human beings; sung and played with phenomenal musicians; sat with people in their dying moments) but I think now–in the last part of my working life–my (day)dream job would be to either a) raise sheep in northern California with my husband, or b) own a small inn where we served breakfasts and dinners. You’re on your own for lunch :)
working for the old Gourmet magazine, reviewing 5 star hotels and restaurants all over the world and writing travel articles that everyone loves.
1.) Docent for the Smithsonian Institute, but paid well enough to be able to afford a groovy loft in Georgetown, otherwise, meh.
2.) Celebrity landscaper to the stars!
3.) Artist, again with the making as much $ as to be able to afford a groovy loft somewhere, with an acre of land, just one teensie acre for my organic veggies and cut flowers..
4.) Renown Gingerbread House Maker, so in demand, able to afford a groovy loft, etc., etc.
Love ya, Ms. Joy.
You are wonderful! I love the zee doc daydream.
My realistic daydream dream job is to have a variety of jobs: nutrition consultant/private practice, photographer, and blogger. I have always loved having lots of variety in my days. My unrealistic daydream dream job is 1. Anything that gets me on tour with Justin Timberlake and/or gets me on the set of Ellen. 2. Singer (I am TERRIBLE). 3. Travel agent (because I love to plan and travel) 4. Something that allows/pays for me to travel. Oh, this is fun! Thanks :)
I think being Joy the Baker would be my daydream job. Or perhaps, I would live in the South of France, make rose and write about food.
Hey Joy! What a good Friday post. I dreamed of being a drummer ever since I was a little kid (I would come up with a dream job for every letter of the alphabet, and “G” was always gardener or garbage person, so…there’s that?). And I finally put pedal to the metal and just took my first drumming lesson last week!!!!!! It was so surreal. Let me know if you want me to put you in touch with a great NOLA teacher :)
Anyone who doesn’t have a Beyonce Daydream job is kidding themselves! I am totally with you on that stage! Another one I always think about, a Fashion Editor, full resting B*&%! face, coat over the shoulders and NY traffic stopping for me to run across because I am late… for coffee :)
1) Book critic/reviewer. Getting paid to sit around a read books? Count me in.
2) Barista at some trendy coffee place. Although I don’t care nearly enough about where my beans come from I just want to make fancy art in a coffee mug and be friends with the regulars.
The fact that you have shown us that writing, blogging and baking really can earn one a living is great encouragement for me, a relative newbie in the blogging biz. I’m doin’ what I love too, now I’d just like to make the BIG bucks doin’ it.
something that entails living in a Manhattan loft ~ maybe working at Vogue? Also, having a small bakery. Also writing a book. Also personal interior design consultant. And lastly – your er gig suggestion has always appealed to me to. Something that you always ‘on’ for and your disappear into the hospital life, eating, drinking, sleeping there even.
fun post!
Nail polish namer!
My daydream dream job would be to have my own food blog or tuna restaurant with my dad. He is who instilled in me a love of cooking and an appreciation for food, and I would love for us to work together!
I too, would also love to be a backup dancer for Beyoncรฉ. But let’s be real, who wouldn’t?
No worries – totally get your ER references!
A few years ago, when I was a Mumford & Sons fangirl, I wanted to be a sort of Mumford & Sons groupie. Just follow them around as they toured the U.S., go to all their concerts, blow all my money on merch, stuff like that. I still kind of want to do that, honestly. Or I’d be one of those people that has enough money to just go to concerts and music festivals every weekend. Not really a job, but I guess I could turn it into one if I became a music writer or concert photographer.
Orrrr I think it would be totally cool to be a food blogger/stylist/photographer. I know nothing about food styling or photography. But I’d love to learn.
OR OR OR. I’d be one of those sick twisted people who pick the mystery basket ingredients on “Chopped.” Muhahahaha.
(basically if it involves food, writing, and/or music, I probably want to make it my job)
Olympic Figure Skater! (I like to feel like i’m flyyyyyying!)
Fashion Designer! (CLOTHES! SHOES! MAKEUP!)
Dentist! (I’m detail oriented & OCD!)
To own a small local and organic cafรฉ/bakery with scripture-decorated cups with little nooks and small rooms for bible studies.
Owner of a really cool, fun coffee shop or cafe. With no chance of failure. None whatsoever. Totally do-able, right? Like playing SimCity with disasters turned off. It’s all sunshine.
Part of me wishes I could go back in time to tell my eighteen-year-old self to go ahead and pursue that theater career–learn how to dance, really learn how to act, learn how to direct, do SOMETHING in the theater world. Of course, most of me realizes that that would have been a bad choice for eighteen-year-old me, and that I wouldn’t have had a lot of pretty cool life experiences if I had done that, but EVEN STILL. I literally had a dream the other night that I was a chorus girl and I was a little sad when I woke up.
A guitarist in a rock band. Like Slash. I want to BE Slash.
A cookery school in Tuscany. Take my bright-eyed and bushy tailed enthusiastic students to the local market to pick up fresh local produce food. And go back to the Italian manor up in the Tuscan hills with the views of Florence to roll out dough for pizza and talk about olive oils before sitting down to wolf down the dishes we have made surrounded by lemon and olive trees in the garden.
Haute couture designer or couture jeweller. In my head, I can naturally draw fabulous dresses and travel the world to sample high quality fabrics to touch. And showcase my work in front of the fashion world in New York-Paris-Tokyo.
To be Michael Fassbender’s PA assistant. I don’t need to explain that, do I?
I am right there with you on the ER dream job. I could basically be a doctor after watching 15 seasons of the show. My doctors always ask if I’m in the field since I’m so familiar with the terminology.
My daydream job is to do exactly what you are doing now, that and to feed those less fortunate. I love cooking for other people, and baking is my therapy! This is my second career. For years I worked with low income families, children in the system, displaced individuals and anyone who needed assistance. Although I worked in administration and education, I always found myself cooking/baking for people. So my dream is to move (eventually) to New Orleans and get paid to do what I love which is baking and cooking for myself and others.
For a long time I wanted to be JLo from The Wedding Planner – weddings and organizations are my thing. Or to work in the Martlett White House in The West Wing.
The Doctor’s travel companion, before kids.
With kids, I daydream about being a part time professional organizer and/or running therapist (I would hold all my sessions while running or biking). When my kids are not in school I would do all kinds of fun activities, cook and bake with them just like Joan Cleaver.
I think I have the best shot at the before kids option.
My daydream job is to be independently wealthy, so that I could funnel all my excess money into a non-profit that would give out grants to whatever I felt was important. Then I could travel all over visiting my projects and basking in the glow of doing good things for the universe.
After 30+ years of providing homeless and hunger relief services, I would LOVE working in a foundation that actually gave out money to the agencies thT do such great work. My second dream job would be to have a coffee shop serving great treats, and shelves of good books for people to enjoy :)
I’m working in campus ministry part-time right now, so the current dream is to be able to do this full-time, spending more time with God and with students and less on commuting and doing office work to pay the bills. On the daydreaming side, though, I’ve always wanted to record audiobooks, especially children’s or YA books. There’s magic in getting to tell and experience stories in that way.
Okay, I’ll bite.
1. Doing what I do, just better. I mean, sure, I write about getting people cooking, managing their busy lives, and trying to do a better job of making real food a priority, but I need to do it better, bigger, grander. I’m not good at creating community, at getting outside my comfort zone, at being bold. It holds me back, and I know it.
2. Novelist. I actually have a writing group with local authors and take writing classes to this end. I’m working on a book. Eventually I’d like to spend more time writing the things I want to write and less time filling up on freelance jobs just to pay the bills.
3. Independently wealthy. Think of all the things you could do if you were independently wealthy? You’d have time to volunteer for that organization on your heart, and the resources to get there and attempt to make a difference. Reach more people in more areas, effect change, take up public speaking for a human rights organization, open an animal rescue farm, experience the world, go back to school just because knowledge is a worthwhile pursuit.
Kisscam operator at sporting events. Get paid to creep on people and try to ID “are they or aren’t they,” then either embarrass them or create sweet moments? Pretty ideal.
Fred found one of these HILARIOUS. I’ll let you guess which one. XO
Can I get paid to read? That’s pretty much all I want to do. So I’m thinking being one of those anthology editors who gets to pick the best fiction/nonfiction/sci fi/poetry/whatever of the year sounds pretty great. Now that I think about it, I could just start a Tumblr with my favorite finds, but no one’s paying me to do that.
Teaching kids how to cook. And writing about cooking – old recipes, grandma’s recipes (which I do right now, but not for a living). Oh, and all this would happen on a farm. While sheep graze in the background. Because, hey…we’re daydreaming, right?
My dream job is to own a successful bookstore (predominantly stocking children’s books). Or to be a buyer at a bookstore.
When I was little I wanted to be a figure skater. Specifically Kristi Yamaguchi. I would wait in the other room and have my mom announce me: “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls….introducing Kristi Yamaguchi!” Then I would come in and twirl around for approximately 45 seconds and then have her do it all over again. And again. And again. Unfortunately my incredible lack of coordination has hindered this dream. Now I want to be Buffy. Or a pirate.
1) To own a bakery cafe with a community bookshelf and live in the apartment above it with a balcony connected to my room.
2) To write books and tv scripts then get to be a contributor to NPR’s podcast, Pop Culture Happy Hour.
3) Broadway star. Duh.
4) To eat ALL THE THINGS and never gain a pound.
5) #4 combined with any of the others.
Oh, so many daydream jobs- food writer, consulting chef for adorablely charming and geographically distant restaurants so I have to travel and eat a lot, bookstore owner, fashion buyer, backup vocalist for super trendy indie band (not any specific one), interior designer. And then there are the daydream jobs that I want to want (you know what I mean?), like yoga teacher or holistic nutritionist.
I second bookstore owner! And librarian.
I am a librarian, and it’s less bookish, more wrangling/helping/talking down homeless people/middle school kids/toddlers/people who don’t understand computers. :)
I do love to daydream. Let’s see — if I am “free of the boundaries of age, lifestyle, and actual skill or ability,” then of course I would be a singer-songwriter who owned a quaint little seaside bed-and-breakfast. I’d spend my days writing songs, occasionally recording a hit album, and making delicious breakfasts for my BnB guests. My second choice is to work at a doggie daycare – what could be better than running around playing with dogs all day?
Dolphin behavior and communication researcher. Be in the water? Study dolphins all day? Yes, please. Grant writing…not so much.
sounds cool but think id go with a porpoise.. dolphins are all keekeekeek. researching sounds cool too. I think marine biologist and travelling in those hot foreign climes might be ok aswell. might you consider a porpoise or definitely a dolphin? ;)
I LOVE your 90s ER reference. I’m pretty sure I became a doctor just because of that show. I used to literally dream about Noah Wylie. And, since you asked, my dream job is your real job. Isn’t that how life goes? :)
I came to your blog for the food, I stayed for the writing and now that I know you’re an ER fan you’ll never get ready of me.
You set the tone Joy ;-)
Xxx
I love to remember the time I spent watching ER when I was a child :D
Lately I can say that nights in the ER are far less funny and sexy in reality but that’s why it’s a nice day dream job!
In my day dream job I would be a photo reporter in foreign country and travel all around the world every day for it.
Living on a farm in Ireland making and photographing beautiful food with my loving family, many cats, goats, and cows… Sigh.
I really, really want to be a farmer! And I’m not talking huge fields of corn and wheat, but large pastures for lots of animals. Of course, these animals always want to be pet and basically treat me like Snow White, helping with chores and whistling along while I sing (I also can’t sing.)
I also dream of opening a book shop and cafe with cats. Lots of cats.
You can probably see a theme here. :)
I think being a life coach would be one of the most rewarding careers.
I love encouraging people and watching them realize their full potential would be amazing.
I dream all day but some of my reoccurring ones would be…
1. Work for the Y (my current employer) doing mental and physical health programming. I want to incorporate physical health as an aid for low-mid grade mental and emotional struggles/trauma.
2. Quit Full-Time work and be a Yoga Teacher/Personal Trainer.
3. Open a cafรฉ/bakery with emphasis on Fair Trade practices.
4. Be a professional volunteer. Is that a thing? I want to serve on boards and give my time and energy to causes that I’m not qualified enough to work for but still want to make an impact with.
5. Dancer. I quit ballet when I was 8 because my teacher told me I was too fat and would never have a dancer’s body. I wish I hadn’t quit. I wouldn’t want to do ballet (because she was right- I will never have that body) but damn, can I twerk with the best of them and would love to be a hype girl for shows.
6. Nurse. I’m not disciplined enough and don’t do well with bodily functions; but I love the schedule and the helping people part.
7. Serena Williams.
8. Missionary to somewhere like Kenya or Haiti or Cambodia and just love orphans all day long.
9. Be a super-cool-geek girl who codes and writes and is artsy.
I must be one of the two! Hubby and I are watching ER all the way through as he’s never seen it (travesty!) and we are smack in the middle of all the Greene-Carter-Ross-Hathaway goodness right now. So I’m with you there.
Other than that, I’m just stepping into one of my dream jobs: starting a baking business as a social enterprise for a local charity that works with youth in my area. We’ll be providing baked goods for a local cafe to start, but the vision is to have baking apprenticeships for young people and to eventually have our own cafe/catering business/food truck/whatever we can come up with!
I’d sing commercial jingles. Lucratively, of course. I’ve always envied Kathie Lee for her history in singing commercials. Alas, I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.
Id love to work as an animator at Ghibli studios going crazy over deadlines and eating ramen with Hayao Miyazaki (he’s retired I know lol) and the rest of the studio staff! I also daydream about being a pastry chef or a being a youtube star like Zoella and I’m currently starting to think a lot about owning a little cafe
I think about all this often while im on my way to the minimum wage fast food job I hate so much I cry over it sometimes lol
I love my job (high school math teacher) but in my dreams, I want to be a full time book reviewer with total control over which books I review, OR I want to write science fiction romance novels.
I am happy to say that, after raising two sets of twins, working for years when they all were in college (at the same time) I quit my stupid job in May and am now weaving full time. Yay!! Fiber art was my major in college (several lifetimes ago) and this has been my dream since forever. I just started a blog (threadsintheloom.wordpress.com) and am opening an etsy shop next week. It’s a little scary and very exciting at the same time!
that’s really fantastic! i’m so happy for you!
Once a week a do my dream job. I help people create beautiful quilts and other fabric projects. I only dream I could make a living from it.
To have a little cafe down the street where I only served breakfast and lunch and sweets in the late afternoon, it would have a knitting, sewing store upstairs where people could sit around a beautiful community table and work with their hands and make something.
This sounds for real cliche as a budding food blogger, but I want to be a food blogger, ha! I know it seems so silly and typical to say, but honestly, my passion is baking and taking beautiful pictures of the food I love. My goal is to be the vegan JTB, if that’s not too weird, haha!
go on and get it!
I’ve had many a day dream job scratched off my list by trying them out as part time jobs. Wedding planner? Nope. Restaurateur? Hell no. I’m still hanging onto “blogger” but haven’t managed to carve out the time to get started, lol. The hardest thing for me is focusing my ideas and not rambling into the sunset. I just don’t want to work for another person. I love people though. I’m also applying to my hundredth job at Whole Foods today. Here’s hoping they show me some love! Also – novel writer, forager, and/or something with the food bank helping low income families eat healthy and meal plan.
good luck on the Whole Foods expedition! i’m rooting for you!
I love this post. So much.
I daydream about dreamy potential careers constantly. I want to be Kathleen Kelly from You’ve Got Mail. I want to own that tiny bookstore and gush about the wonders of Peter Pan with my tiny patrons. I want to work in the bustling kitchen at The French Laundry. But most of all, I want to do what you do, Joy. I want my blog to get a firm footing so that I can continue doing what I love most every single day.
i like your thoughts so so much!
I think you actually look a little like Juliana Margulies. So you’re halfway there. You just need to find a time machine to take you back to the glory that was ER.
I would run a camp for grownups. An awesome, restful place (with fun activities as options) where grownups could go and unplug and just spend time with the people who are important to them.
taaaakkkkkeeee me away to this dream camp!
My dream job would be to own a small cafe that catered to breakfast lunch and dessert with a changing menu, Or have an American cafe for tourist in Italy. Another dream would be to be an actress or a dancer. Ah to dream…..
I’ve been watching some early Grey’s Anatomy but all it is really doing for me is making me wish I could binge watch ER. That show!
My daydream dream job has always been to be a ballerina. I imagine it would feel magical to be that graceful.
I feel like I have a new daydream dream job every day. Flight attendant (without rude passengers, of course), peds doctor, travel writer, and would love love love to the community relations manager for the toronto blue jays (hometown) or any major league sports team.
Working on lighting in Pixar movies. Or really, if we’re going back in time, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Just being a writer but without having to do anything related to press.
Doing a podcast, kind of just being a modern Dorothy Parker.
I just want to talk to interesting people all day, or work in the dark on arty stuff.
I’d like to hang out with David Chang, Ed Lee, and other “mind of a chef” celebrities. I would discover the best wines (or bourbon, or other drinks) to go with their food, travel to interesting remote locations (see “Fire” episode with Ed Lee in Bolivia or Argentina or some such awesomeness) and experience foods I’ve never seen before. Naturally I would do this in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way, and support the local economies. Does this sound like a job? Well not really- but it’s MY daydream! I suppose I could record my experiences in a funny yet educational and inspiring book or two. Why not!?!
sounds like some solid daydreaming.
I would love to read a food-infused blog post about the Harlem Renaissance!
Any chance of a revival of the Joy the Baker podcast anytime in the near future? I miss looking forward to new episodes from you and your maj.
Missing the podcast as well, hope to get an update soon Joy! (And in my dreams I’m an astronaut ????)
I’ll work on the Harlem Renaissance for you. I don’t know if Tracy and I will pick up the podcast again. Time and life got away from us.
Yoga instructor. That would be so awesome, you could make people feel better, pick amazing playlists, be in great shape… I may still ditch my ‘career’ and go for it. I could trade high heels for flip flops every day, yep.
1. Coach my own Internationally created Women’s Ice Hockey Team in my own League in the United States 2. Coach an NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Team 3. Coach an NHL Ice Hockey Team 4. Be a War/Battle Analyst with the International Institute for Stategic Studies and talk about it on tv(something i considered going to uni for when i was studying my A-Levels but alas didnt get the grades for Kings College, London). 5. Be a paid Social Commentator ….they are probably my dream jobs in order of preference. Women’s Ice Hockey to me is a great sport and i honestly thought needed a boost in recognition. I created a league which would have done more(created better world understanding, brought ‘hockey’ more to the Agricultural areas of the US, Helped in the better self-confidence of kids, Helped show Alaska isnt just a resource cashcow which is noticed for the environment, risen the prominance of Women’s Team Sport such that it would have been a Woman’s sport which ran alongside Men’s sport not amongst it..ie stood alone in its own right which i felt womens sport and a league of 30 would have accomplished and id have ensured it didnt interfere with present US sports and Leagues as much as possible. Money wasnt the key figure. Would have brought teams to locations(towns owning the rinks once they paid off) as opposed to mobile teams which seems to go on(no money they up and leave and go somewhere else). As you can tell its something i felt strongly about. And well the sport, something i really enjoy watching-who wanted want their dream job to be connected with their hobby. Talking money apart from the current very top leagues, most Women’s Ice Hockey players, even those which play for their countries, play for enjoyment and the competition, and receive NO pay or salary-i thought they deserved better recognition. Thanks. Cant dance, cant sing-so backup anything to Beyonce out of the question to me though i do like the song and music video ‘If i was a boy’ :)
this is pretty incredible.
Thankyou I think. (I did go on a bit(sorry)).sorry also for the ‘wanted’ instead of ‘wouldn’t’ typo
oops and I meant coach my own international team..i would have players from various ice hockey playing countries on my team(my league) -US, Canada, GB, Japan, China for example and rest of the league would have teams from countries around the world, majority of players on each other team from that country and the rest of the team from Canada or the US on each team in order that there is local interest. The US and Canadian Teams would be them solely, not just 2 teams from the home countries .. would be a good home country vs world teams competition vying for top spot. really good lol ..but alas ..lol thanks anyway
I apparently need to do more daydreaming about dream jobs… I can’t think of a single thing, and that’s not because I’m totally satisfied with what I’m doing now.
I’m going to show my age here so be very afraid. My daydream dream job would be an 80’s slut rocker chick, like Pat Benetar, Stevie Nicks, Heart (both Ann and Nancy Wilson). Aside from the fact I can’t sing, am terrified to be in front of people, and certainly can’t pull off the outfits they did, but yeah, that would be fun.
that’s the spirit!
Honestly ~ I’m doing my dream job as a gym teacher in NYS!!! I mean, it’s all play and no work, hehe. Dodge ball, badmitten, table tennis, can jam, ladder ball, fun and more fun. And when you get mad at a student, just pound the dodge ball at them (just kidding guy!!) or not.
I want to be a baker or pastry chef. Or an event planner. Or a life coach. Basically I want to cheer people on and be part of celebrations.
I would be a blogger like you but for my apple farm. Currently I work weekends at an apple farm/winery so I’m 1/3 of the way there. Next up is starting the blog and then just waiting for the original owners to retire so I can buy the orchard.
Olivia Pope.
As I now work in politics, I may or may not be joking.
I want to be Olivia Pope, but really I’m just in it for the clothes… and so I can say, “It’s been handled!” while storming off and looking fabulous :)
I too want to be Olivia Pope for her outerwear alone.
When I was in middle school, we had a snow day and I was able to stay home and watch Regis and Kathie Lee. On this particular episode, I fell hard for a break dancer that was breaking the world record for number of spins on his head. That is my dream job. Slash backup dancer for Beyonce. Obvs.