Ten things I am going to do (or not do) when I grow up

At the age of 52 with no desire to go back to college whatsoever - because I know everything already- I don't think I will be starting a new career but if I was going to 'try again' these are some of the things I might consider and alternatvely many jobs I would not touch with a barge pole.

1. This one might be top of the list which is rather strange considering I have developed an aversion to continuing my own education. I would like to be an admissions officer for a good liberal arts college. This institution would be good in a non-showey way and it would be located in a small New England town that had benefitted from the college's prestige and amenities. I would be able to walk to work and divide my time between welcoming groups of potential students to the college and organizing their tours. I would also have to sort through applications helping to make the all important decision involving whether to accept the student or turn them down. I would probably wear some stylish tweed skirts and carry my few papers in a shopping basket. The other side of me could be seen mixing with young people on campus in some tight jeans and neat little jackets.

2. I think it might be rather nice to name paint colors. The names of paint colors are pretty fantastic - dark blue, light blue and royal blue just don't cut it anymore. In my house alone I have burnt pecan walls in the kitchen - dark orange; priarie wheat in the living room - dull yellow and stormy sea in the dining room. My white trim is not even white it is serenity or it could be linen. I would spend my days in the paint factory looking through National Geographic magazines and a thesorus. I realize there is a bit of psychology attached to all this soI would probably have to spend some time wearing a white coat (unbuttoned, over tailored blackslacks and a cashmere sweater of muted hues) running tests on members of the public who would be looking at screens of colors and having their heart rate measured or pupils dilated.
As a side line to this job I would also work part -time for The Yankee Candle Company naming scented candles.

3. I would not like to be one of those people who hold up the 'stop' and 'slow' signs used tocontrol traffic whilst road repairs go on. I think you would get very dirty doing this no matter what you wear. The only slight distraction might be if you made a mistake and showed 'slow' when you really meant 'stop'. You would only be allowed to do this once.

4. I would not like to read the news. How can you read through all those stories without offering a comment or a the very least pulling a face?

5. I would like to arrange exhibitions of art. I would do this for a small, successful gallery in New York and I would spend my days collecting the various pieces together and then arranging them so that they can be seen in the best possible light. My wardrobe would be extensive and stylish as people would want tosee me as well as my art. My hair would be groomed and sprayed so that it could not moved.

6. I could not be a truck driver. The frustration from sitting in traffic jams would drive me insane, although I do like those wrap-around mirrored sunglasses.

7. I am undecided about this one..... I could plan parties and weddings; spending other people's money on extravagant affairs. What makes me undecided about this career is having to deal with the stress generated by the people you are working for. All big occassions tatter nerves.

8. I would not like to sell cars. This seems very cut-throat and more than a little boring.

9. I would like to raise and cultivate new plants for eating and looking at. I would have a team of experts who could do all the polination and botany stuff but I could decide what was needed and ,of course what the plant would be called. I would spend sometime travelling to exotic places to look at what was already grown but then I would return home to miles of greenhouses and beautiful walled gardens. I would prbably wear cordroy trousers and rubber boots at home but travel in some rather stylish out of Africa outfits.

I seem to have quite a thing about naming things. I would have made a useful homesteader or pilgrim as Icould have come up with a few more original names for new towns in a new country.
I would also consider naming ski paths in new resorts or new rides in theme parks.
Perhaps in the not too distant future when more aspects of our lives are much more controlled by a government I could be employed to name everyone's babies which would be accommodated in state run institutions. I would walk amongst the rows of cots in a Mao -like suit that fitted better than those worn in the sixties using names from every culture. Very few would be called Britany or Cody and I would be strict about those names reserved for boys and those used for girls.