You make $65,000 (USD 🤢) in a dead end career doing nothing but showing up sometimes. Guaranteed employment without change in intensity or salary until retirement in 15 years at age 62. You receive 3 weeks paid vacation, reasonably priced medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k matched at 2.5%, and virtually unlimited sick days as long as you don’t call out too often (>3x month). You are given 6 college credits per semester to use at the local university. You’re currently working on a PhD.
You live comfortably and have 1 year’s salary saved. Zero dependents.
Do you ride it out, or do you seek a career change before it’s too late.
I know, infinite unknown variables, but what would you do regardless?
UPDATE: I’m slightly taken aback by how many of you actually took the time out of your day/evening to reply to my personal crisis. I’ve think I’ve replied to everyone, which, in doing so, made this morning surprisingly sunnier. So thanks for that.
Adding some thing I’ve shared in replies. I’m a homeowner with zero debt aside from a very affordable mortgage. Purchased my car outright new in 2024, had household concerns addressed over past five years (new roof, HVAC systems, sump pump, water heater, shed, remodeled bathrooms), have three degrees, and a lifetime of piss poor fortune.
“imagine you are on your deathbed” is exactly where my mindset currently resides. I’m not close enough to the grave to truly be feeling this way, but I do feel like this is crisis-time, and with zero guarantee I’ll survive another 20 years, I’m beginning to value and fear time.
All of these suggestions have merit, and I appreciate them immensely. The scenario you painted is one of my greatest fears, with a slightly greater fear being that I don’t have answers to any of those questions. I try to live without regret. Do I have regrets? Absolutely. Do I allow them to control my existence? Well, that’s what the meds are for.
In all seriousness, I don’t know what I want my answers to be. Without answers to the impossible questions (what is the point of all of this?), I struggle to not only find answers, but to formulate questions worthy of answers.