[Senkusha]

Working from home (WFH) seems to be one of the New American Dreams.  My fantasy of WFH is being able to wake up somewhat early (around 5:00 or 6:00, make a decent breakfast, eat, and start work without having to waste hours of my life commuting to my job.  While I'm working, I've got my personalized music playlist filling the bland living room (office) with background noise -- so that I don't get distracted with my wondering mindlessness syndrome (yeah, I probably just coined that!)  I'd work for a few hours -- doing what?  I honestly don't know yet!, then eat a nice quick and healthy lunch designed to give me a mental boost of concentrative energy (does that even exist? -- I know the WORD doesn't exist!)  Then I'd work for a few more hours, and log off for the day to cook a nice relaxing meal.

I know I've got the discipline to do this kind of work.  I have the home-office defined:  Two monitors, a FAST, near State-of-the-Art computer, Four-in-one laser printer, hole punch, TONS of printer paper and two spare toner cartridges, three-ring-binders, (I need a stapler).  I've got the most comfortable pink gaming chair that I KNOW I can sit in for hours without aches and pains, and it provides excellent posture.  I do think I need a better keyboard though.  The one I recently bought, I noticed that I make more typing errors on, and I think it may have something to do with the spacing of the keys.  But I have a high-grade laser mouse that absolutely rocks, plus a drawing tablet.  

One problem I know I do have is that my computer is NOT wired to my Internet, it uses WiFi, by it is secured and hardened (I ONLY authorize specific devices on my router.)  It's impossible for me to connect my computer to my router via wired connection because the ONLY cable connection in the apartment is in the bedroom!  At any rate, my living room is well-lit, and my apartment is QUIET!!  I'm not sure if I don't have any neighbors or if the building is just built that GOOD, but it's nice and quiet.  And even though I'm half in the basement, the sounds from the parking lot are very muted.

So now that I've rambled on and on about my work environment and what I believe is probably a fantasy about how I would work from home, I'd still have to figure out what in the world I would actually DO!  I know I probably have some decent skills that would allow me to work remotely.  One possible job title I recently saw is Data Analyst.  I'd need Excel, SQL, and Tableau, maybe Python?  I have the first two, and while I'm a bit rusty, give me a week.  I used to write SQL queries for fun, back when I had a need to work with it, and it is my preferred database retrieval/storage method.  I'd have to start paying for Microsoft Excel again, but if my job is paying me more than I'm currently earning at $16.48 / hour, AND I don't have to commute to work, I think I can spare the $7 per month.

But what else do I think I could do?  I know that I need something that challenges me, I enjoy solving a good problem, but I don't want to get overwhelmed and begin feeling like I'm an incompetent moron.  Software engineering could be an option, but I don't feel I'm competent enough to do that.  I do enjoy learning and playing with various programming languages, but I know I suck with more advanced mathematics.

Then again, whatever I would do for work, has to be something that people actually need, and at the same time I would WANT to do.  I have a moral/ethics problem -- as I've been down the Dark Side before in life, and refuse to walk down that path of compromising my Values again.  I don't think I could do anything Sales driven though.  I see so many problems with our System of Capitalism, Consumerism, and Materialism here in the America, and the damage that it's doing to the World, and working in a role that facilitates toward that type of behavior just rubs me the wrong way.

I know whatever I want to do, I want to help people, but at the same time, I'm kinda burned out of just speaking to people -- like I can't stand being on the phone, I don't even like it when my phone rings!  I get like some kind of weird Pavlovas Dog thing that happens.  I'm even thinking of changing the ring tone from my favorite song, because I noticed that I'm liking the song less and less as time goes on -- specifically because it's tied to the response of negativity with having to answer the phone, and usually, when the phone rings, there's going to be something that invokes confrontation.  I wonder, if there is some kind of mental disorder/thingy/definition to this?

I do know that I'm going to have to work on a brand new resume.  Having over 30 years of Customer Service skills isn't going to do me a whole lot of good, when I want to transition out of that role.  I want to do something more creative.  I enjoy writing, but only fiction, really.  I know I can't draw all that well, and I'm a noob at anything 3D modeling/computer drafted.  But at the same time, I'm going to be 49 in a few months.  am I spinning my wheels for nothing?

Anyway, what would you do if you could work from home?  Maybe your ideas could give me some avenues to try?  Or, do you currently work from home, and if so, what do you do?  Thanks for allowing me to ramble!