Hi r/antiwork, idk if this is really the right sub but I hope it might at least be a starting point.
I’ll spare the details for now at least but what I’m hoping to hear is stories or advice about switching from a conventional career (aerospace/software engineering) to something that I think might be better for my mental health (and hopefully those around me too).
What I figure I need given my history (and this is 20+ years of outward “success” but inward pain and each apparently successful job ending in a mental health leave and then an ungrateful parting of ways) is something along these lines:
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Allows for choice, to take or not take particular opportunities
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Each gig should be of finite length without feeling obligated to keep taking on work from the same clients in order to keep up appearances or whatever
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Makes at least some use of an advanced engineering degree from a top tier US school (skills are in the area of math, software engineering, robotics, aerospace, UAVs)
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leaves ample time to spend with 2 kids who will be both off to college (or wherever) in less than a decade
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respectable and legal (want to be a role model for my kids)
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can support an arbitrary amount of time off with lots of flexibility
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can pay well enough to contribute meaningfully to family finances, this would mean ideally high 5 figures at least where I live now (Bay Area)
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can lean on a pretty decent savings/spousal income and benefits cushion (very blessed in that regard)
… that’s off the top of my head, I’ll add any more that I come up with
So far I’m thinking of things like (some more realistic than others):
Independent consulting taking on similar work as I’ve done before but only short term contracts
Gig work like Lyft
Online proofreading
Writing
Visual art
Open source software
Education (tutoring, probably middle school and above, maybe lecturing, curriculum for Khan Academy, Brilliant or similar)
…
Thanks for any words of wisdom and especially from experience.