Tags: vocation, musings, church
Date: 07 March 2006 17:38:15
The other month I was musing here about how I might become a plumber when I've finished my PhD. I have now abandoned this idea, because (amongst other reasons) the courses are so oversubscribed, and to be honest what I really need is not to become a plumber but to do a basic evening class for idiots so I can tell one end of a U-bend from the other. Over the weekend I was thinking again about post-PhD life - I really don't want to be an academic, and got to thinking about doing a gardening course. Which I've thought on and off over the years, and love the thought, especially now I don't have a garden any more. So that's another possibility.
What I've always thought though is that I don't want to do any more heavy academic-type training or a job which takes over my life - I really think I've done my fair share, don't you? So why was it that, walking past my church this afternoon having just got off the bus there, and musing on a thread that's been started on SoF today about numbers of ordinands and an impending demographic timebomb in the CofE, and thinking how that situation seems to be thoroughly magnified in the SEC, that when the thought "you could do ordination training" popped into my head I didn't immediately think "argh, no way!"? Now there's no need to worry, I've got no intention of doing ordination training, and next week I shall probably be convinced that the best thing for me to do post-PhD is to become a trapeze artist* or something. But I am slightly alarmed at my lack of running away from the thought.
It occurs to me that in the absence of any clue whatsoever, my readers may well have some great ideas as to a post-academic career for me. Feel free to make suggestions in the comments - a prize may be forthcoming for the one which makes me laugh the most.
* if I ever blog that I think I should become a trapeze artist you are all most welcome to snigger and point at the poor deluded woman.