Hi Jane,

I aspire to retire because there are so many things I like to do with my time (paint, sing, play music, write, cook, garden -- in fact, just about anything other than housework and math).

I do not recommend my solution to anyone -- it has its deficits -- but it works for me. I work in a recreation program for disabled children that includes able-bodied "neurotypicals" as well -- i.e. "regular kids. This is what I like about it:

1) For three-quarters of the year I work afternoons only (I am a morning person). I get the best of my day, the morning hours to write, paint, go to the recording studio, etc. By feeding myself first, it is possible for me to tolerate work. During the rest of the year -- summers and school vacations I work 8-10 hour days, but I know that this is finite: I can work eight hours a day for a limited period of time.

2) I get to work outside. Sometimes I get rained on, but I love the fresh air and being able to see trees.

3) Autistic kids don't like noise or loud music and neither do I -- I can take refuge with them when there is too much rap music about, or cheering sports fans

4) Because I am a non-salaried employee I can take time off whenever I wish: I just say I'm going to be gone and they have to get a sub for me (it's kind of like being a waitress and trading shifts), I make sure I'm available to them during the grueling summer program so that they don't object when I go off to meditation retreats four times a year, plus a music camp in December.

5) When I am not at work, my time is my own. I have no pager, no cell phone. If they call me for extra hours I can decide whether to accomodate them.

The downside, if you're curious, is that I earn a high hourly wage, which they counteract by giving me relatively few hours of work per week (always under twenty) and I don't get health insurance or sick leave or paid holidays, which I would get if they would let me have twenty hours a week.

Works for me. I have at least one co-worker I have a lot of friction with and a few I like a lot.

My advice: figure out what is most important to you and arrange your life around it: I need to earn some money, but my life is about freedom and making art, so I use my best hours for myself and work gets the rest. This has the effect of putting me in a better mood at work because I have "worked" for myself first for five hours or so.

Gargoyle was right on the money with gratitude practice as were all those who said, "That's why they call it work."

Best of luck in changing your situation so that it works for you.

Sharyn