^ I hear you guys. Totally. Just a few days ago I was telling Mnemosis the same thing.
My degree is in Computer Science - but I walk dogs for a living.
About seven years ago I burnt out, & also said the proverbial "fuck it." Decided to do something completely different for a career. I don't make much money, but I'm a
much happier person.
Technically I work with everything from fish to horses, but 95% of the time I'm just walking dogs - and dogs are
GREAT. They're absolutely honest. If they don't like a person, they growl, show their teeth, bark & back away. The message is clear.
People, however, are just the opposite:
"How ya' doin'? Good to see you."
No it isn't, you douchebag... I can't stand you, and I know the feeling is mutual, but I gotta' play nice & be f'n political even tho' what I really
want to do is shove a hot poker up your ass... My current co-workers jump all over me & lick my face. It's the grooviest thing: they are genuinely happy to see me. I usually don't have to talk with people during the day unless I want to. And I get to spend hours walking & hiking along trails in the woods; it's like something right out of an Emerson essay.
Mark Twain said something along the same line: "If you take a [stray] dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. That is the primary difference between dog and man."
I'm not saying it's right for everybody, but it certainly worked miracles for me.
And so, off I go now to make my rounds...
Cheers!