askandanswer | (no subject)

(no subject)

Today I read a very long study about career satisfaction, happiness, and the difficulty of attaining either in the contemporary economy.

So. Do you like your job?

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Sounds like a familiar kind of complicated.

What sort of work is it?

Do indulge me. [ Said soft with a small smile ]

I'm an artist and because there's no money it that, I run an occult shop.

It's sort of like middle-of-the-race fatigue. I've committed to what I want to do, but in the midst of getting there, I get — tired, I suppose. But I'm also very lucky, and I wouldn't want to do anything else.

Really? [ More quietly surprised by the latter than the former, although...if she didn't quite deliberately have her blinders on when it comes to that sort of thing, maybe she wouldn't be. ] What kind of artist?

I think that's natural in every path someone takes. You seem like a smart girl. The medical world needs people like you who actually care about their craft over the money.

[ Possibly a good thing. Those who are more in tune with that sense might get a some fairly conflicting information from him. His tone says caring and nurturing, his aura says big black cloud. ] I'm a painter, dapple in poetry now and then.

It does need people who are invested in patient care. I don't mind the length of time it takes, exactly, but it's daunting, sometimes, to think of six or seven more years' studying before I can even be fully qualified. [ Seven years seems like a longer time to her mostly because of her age, but she's also conditioned to feel like things in her life are eminently breakable; who knows what will happen in the next near-decade? ]

I always wonder how artists — and poets, for that matter — keep their inspiration going. Especially when you've got a shop to run. Is it difficult?

I hear a lot of people think that they will start living their real life after they retire and have that money there for them. It's an entirely wrong way to approach life. You have to love your work because your work is your life. You don't have to love everything about it, but you know...

It's not at all. I run everything from home [ There is a small shrug ] Stop by some time if you'd like. Art is fluid. The muse comes when it comes. There is an art and craft to everything, though. You are inspired to your work and I am inspired to mine.

I've never really been immersed in the type of world that leads to that way of thinking. Most of the people I grew up around don't even entertain the idea of getting to retirement. I suppose it's kind of a luxury to have those dreams, even if they're not the best plan. [ This is a byproduct of being raised by a woman who thinks visiting pariah states is an educational experience. And it is, in fact, educational, but it's also given Gisela that particular wryness in her voice. ]

I'd love to see it.

Perhaps it's a luxury, but I don't personally subscribe to the idea that life should be luxurious and easy. [ He pulls his jacket around him a little. ]

Then please stop by some time. Have I given you my address?

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