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

I Dream of Elevators and Collapsing Office Buildings

I'm a mellow sort of person who loves gardening, animals, gourmet cooking, and the Grateful Dead. I love to visit art galleries, plant nurseries, and the library. I make art out of found objects. I'm basically an old hippie.

Why can't I have dreams about things I enjoy? Why can't the bad dreams stop? I have them just about every night. It's like a curse.

I dream about being lost in big gray high rise office buildings. The building's on fire and I can't escape. Alarms going off. Walls and ceilings caving in. Being trapped in elevators, stuck, going nowhere.

Sometimes the dreams aren't quite that bad. Maybe I'm leaving the job and packing my stuff in cardboard boxes. Every time I think I've finished, and the boxes are ready to go, then more stuff appears in the desk drawers. So I pack it up. Then I check the drawers again- more stuff. The office fills up every time I empty it. And I have to get it all boxed up, or I can't leave.

Often I dream that I can't find my way out of the office building. It becomes a surreal labyrinth with multiple corridors and hallways. I get lost in it. Wandering around lost.

I have an idea. I'm going to make a dream catcher out of the vines and twigs in my yard. I'll make the dream catcher from the healing herbs and the sacred trees, and I will ask to go to a good place at night in my sleep, not the bad places any more.