Do what you love and then....???

[new_to_town]

I used to be a fitness instructor and I can honestly say I loved that job. But then I moved to the Midwest and the crowds were very different in enthusiasm and fitness/skill level from the west coast, and the pay was terrible even if you include the cost of living difference, and my enjoyment went downhill.

A career counselor told me that you have to look at not only what you do but where do you it/what company. She was surprised I did not like engineering given my personality and that perhaps if I had worked for a small startup versus a large corporation, it would probably have been better. I am guessing it probably also depends on your manager and co-workers, too, that's a big reason I didn't like my last job.

I am actually considering contract-based work. It's not as steady, but you work for many different companies and people and if any of them are a fail, you just move on to the next. If any are good, you could possibly work for them again in the future. Also considering starting my own business, for some of those same reasons.