I also ran across an interesting meme from
qaqaq. To wit:Say what your current profession is. Then list up to five professions that you might have pursued (due to your inclinations, abilities, whatever) had your life taken different turns than it has.
Defining my current profession is a bit complicated. I'm an aerospace engineer, but that isn't really specific enough. I'm essentially an advisor to a government department. I do some actual engineering analysis, but I also spend a lot of time writing background papers to help our senior leadership formulate policy positions. So I'm something of a "geek to English" translator. On my more cynical days, I tell people that I go to meetings and write email for a living.
As for other professions I might have pursued:
epidemiologist
yarn store owner
tour leader
neuroscientist
book conservator
In case somebody asks, the reason I did not include either storyteller or travel writer in that list is that I do get paid for doing those things from time to time. I will also admit that I don't want to pursue either full time (at least not prior to retirement) because of my unfortunate addiction to a middle class lifestyle.
