That is a tough question when the people who tend to ask that sort of question. It is a standard of conversational silliness and gauging of one another in society (Dogs just smell each others’ butts, so it could be worse than our little nonsensical verbal dance).

Society has taught us to put so much emphasis on our identity as it relates to our production in society, or how we contribute through working. Whether they measure by dollar figures or title, it seems kind of rude to me that people are instantly placing you on a hierarchy of how “worthy” you are depending on how you answer their question of “what you do”.

Funny in your case, as the comparison generally translates to “what you are worth” most often with a monetary amount, but also applicable socially. Your monetary worth is actually likely much higher than theirs, even if you don’t name a job title that tells them, “This man is wealthy.” Your contribution to society, whether through your writings and educating people, and whatever it is you research I’m sure being of benefit to someone, is likely higher than most average people asking you such a question, even if their titular classification is allegedly “more important”.

But your appearance outwardly would likely trick them into thinking you are low on the scale of either of those areas. Most people think those who don’t have a pile of sticks with their name on the mortgage must be poorer than themselves. Let alone someone whose pile of sticks is aluminum and fiberglass, and has wheels on it.

You are a great example of appearances being deceiving. I’m guessing you don’t actually care what others think of you and your status among them, as you shouldn’t. If you want to come up with a quick answer, you could always go with something easy like “Retired”, and give them this blog address for a deeper explanation. Many people actually are interested in who you are and what you think, and not just figuring out where you rank in the “pack” with them.

Whether to do it one way or the other is really a tactical question.

If you want to create a space in which you can advocate for your lifestyle, you have the option of saying something provocative. Then you can (through your answers) work to encourage the questioner to ask the right questions–ones that give you the option of responding in ways that illuminate your life in a truthful fashion.

The real reason to do so is probably not that you’ll convince many other people to follow your lead (although there may be such a person every now and then). The real reason is that it’s probably the best way to find people that you’ll get along with: They will be the ones who ask smart questions and don’t treat you like an alien. If you just give a conventional answer you miss out on the chance to make that connection.

Well I dont really see how you could answer it differently.

The fact is that you do work full time as an x? at x?, you are still on someone’s payroll, although you say that you have enough money to stop working if you wanted to but you work because you like your work.

So the bottom line is that you work full time as an x in the conventional way. I sense however that you would like people to know that you dont have to work because you have ample savings but you choose to work. I also sense that it is this part which you have difficulty articulating.

“Who wants to know?”

I usually joke that I am retired. Most people usually ask you for your occupation however, in order to compare themselves against you. If the person who asked you was an accountant and your answer is financial analyst, then you are pretty much in the same group of incomes on average. If you answered fast food cashier ( nothing wring with that) they’d look at you as if you are inferior to them. If you answer is CFO they’d think you are loaded with $$$$, and envy you, even if you are the CFO of your own very small company 🙂

I’ve read that the Queen of England,
who meets people of all kinds of different
socioeconomic status, is known to use
the opener question, “What is your current
project?” as opposed to “What do you do
for a living?” or “Where do you work?”
or “Where are you from?”

I’ve tried this, especially since I run into a fair amount of elderly, retired people
through my work, and while this question
doesn’t always lead to deep conversations
on existential philosophy, it does seem
more interesting, genuine, and appropriate
than the alternatives.

-LB

This question doesn’t bother me. Of course, I don’t usually encounter it asked in this calculating “how much money do you make/how posh are you?” sort of way. Maybe that’s how people mean it, but I generally assume they just want to know how I spend most of my time. The briefer question “What do you do?” make it easier to interpret it that way…I sometimes say I’m a writer even though I make virtually none of my income through writing.

When you’re deciding which of the four things to say, use the one that’s most humble for the situation you’re in.

Next time someone asks you what you do for a living, I think “financially independent ecological philanthropist” would describe your situation quite nicely. If they convey any skepticism based on your trailer home or lack of car, you could simply state that you have taken a vow of frugality/poverty so you can devote your resources (don’t say money, say resources) to helping the planet and your fellow man.

Then smile kindly and ask them what they do for a living

Mostly when people ask “what do you do for a living”, they are looking to find out something about you. Since working for a living is a primary activity of most people, asking about it is ezpressing interset in you and asking “what kind of stuff do you do/are you into most of the time”. The fact that you have and ERE lifestyle is somewhat separate from that issue. I think it’s important not to get too too literal about answering the question. Just give an answer that is partially truthful and which tells them something important about you.

[…] guess us young, financially independent types really need a new word. Since to be retired really kind of requires being retired from something. I don’t think you […]