I'm sure this will shock some folks here in Mudburg, but upon graduatin' from college I taught 5th/6th combination for 2 years... I loved the teaching... I hated the paper work and the administration... So I quit and took a job teaching G.E.D. in the Richmond City Jail at an "in house" (haha) drug rehibilitation program... That job also had me teaching at a half way house and, well, things kinda evolved over many years and I ended up the "save-the-world" phase of my life as a "social worker"... Not sure how that all happened???

But I burned out at age 38 and knew that "saving-the-world" would have to take a back seat to, ahhhhh, making a living...

...and looking at the skills that I had honed over some 17 or so years as a teacher/social worker the one profession that seemed to be a natural was-----(insert drum-roll here----)...

...sales!

Yes, D.Dan, sales... Think about what types of thngs you are doing now... Aren't you, in essence, selling... Teaching and selling aren't that much different except in sales you are paid better (if you are half way decent) and while there is paper work it's not so much that it will choke you half to death...

Now should you consider sales, here's the beauty of your situation... You have a job now... You have an income... So you have *time* to do an inventory of your interests... This is important 'cause it gives you an opportunity to figure out your passions... When you figure that out then you'll know what it is that you would be successfull selling... I mean, if you are now an avid golfer, you might want to go to work as a sales rep for a company that makes and/or distributes golf clubs, etc, etc...

I know this sound bizarre, D. Dan, but give it some thought... Also, keep in mind that companies won't slam the door on you if you bring to them your skills... Throw in a little passion for the product and, guess what??? You'll find that a lot of companies will have an interest in hiring you...

That's my 2 cents worth of advice... Just think about it...

Bobert