Swimming With Dolphins

One night several years ago (in between all the nightmares about being trapped in high rises, elevators, etc.), I had a dream that I actually enjoyed.

I dreamed that I was hired to swim around with the dolphins who were becoming unhappy in captivity at Disney World. I got to be an aquatic play therapist for dolphins.

I understood how the dolphins felt. I had felt unhappy in captivity myself for many years. So, the dolphins and I swam around together, and cavorted, and had a great time. I don't know how much this job paid, or how I happened to get it, but it seemed to make more sense than most of the other jobs I'd had.

There Might Be Some Jobs I Might Like

Recently I've been trying to open my mind to the fact that there could possibly be some forms of paid work in the world that would not make me sick. Right now I am at the point where I am willing to believe that such workplaces might exist.

I have not yet convinced myself of the likelihood of: 1) finding these places, and 2) becoming employed by these places. I'm going to work on that.

Part of this process is for me to clearly identify what doesn't work/what to avoid, and then to determine what types of work might be suitable.

I'd like to break this down by types of business or organization to which I am attracted (or at the very least, not averse), conditions that absolutely cannot exist in a prospective workplace, and envision what I would like to see. I'm going to brainstorm these lists right now:

Environments I Might Like

Arts and crafts related
Organic foods/gardening
College/University
Alternative health: naturopath, acupuncture, etc
Pet related: Doggie daycare, dog walking, pet supplies, etc.
Social services/nonprofits
Hippie shop
Bookstore
Antique store

Deal-breakers & Unacceptable (for me) Working Conditions

Lots of office politics
High stress environment
Fast pace/many deadlines/time pressures
Micromanagement/critical supervision
Pressure to perform
Inflexible procedures
Excessive performance evaluation
Excessive work load
Lack of control over work
Call centers
Corporate cubicle farms
Any company that exploits workers (here or overseas)
Adversarial employee/management relations
Hierarchical organization
Constant monitoring
Lack of ability to take restroom breaks as needed
Discriminatory environment (sexism, racism, homophobia & other forms)
Cliqueish co-workers
Jerks and Dumbasses (occasional Bozo or Doofus OK)

What I'd Like To See

Collaborative organizational style
Respect for all
Fun, happy environment
Creativity
People are allowed to make a mistake/perfection is not expected
Everyone is valued
Diverse people
Atmosphere of ongoing learning
Low pressure

Allen Ginsberg Worked for an Ad Agency

Before writing Howl and before Beat Generation fame, poet Allen Ginsberg worked for an advertising agency for five years creating ad campaigns for toothpaste and other consumer products.

During this time he was seeing a psychiatrist for depression. His psychiatrist asked Ginsberg what he thought would make him happy. When Ginsberg told the psychiatrist that writing poetry made him happy, the psychiatrist said, "Go do that, then," and so he did. He quit his job at the ad agency and went to San Francisco. And the rest is history.