I'm planning on retiring as a dancer--my husband is still in college, and will pull in some decent money once he graduates, but I encourage him to attend school to enrich his own life and not to be put under pressure to "bring home the bacon," because, let's be honest....even once he does graduate, I'll likely double his salary. So anyway, I'm building up a little nest egg to help ease us into a comfy retirement and let us have something to sit on in case he has trouble finding a job or whatev.
People ask me a LOT why I'm not in school. Truth is, I tried school, but had zero desire to major in anything but English....and even less desire to teach on a 40k salary. That just seems like too much bullshit with not nearly enough pay.
Anyway, people have mixed reactions when I tell them I want to use dancing as a key to an early retirement--or at least MY early retirement, without sacrificing a comfortable lifestyle. Some look perplexed, eagerly interested, skeptical or....they'll even start laughing! Somehow, the notion of anyone retiring without a college degree seems absolutely ridiculous! I don't really bother arguing with them or defending my plans, because I know they're already convinced. I tell them I'm perfectly aware of what strict, disciplined saving and savvy investing is involved and that any number of things can happen that I'm not planning for.
"What if you're in an accident and become paralyzed?" Well, what if I were a surgeon and severed the nerves in my hand? I hear that every day and honestly, that could be said about ANYONE in ANY work field, but somehow only applies to dancers.
"Almost everyone comes out of college in debt---but college can only help you; it will never hurt you." True, in a sense that an education will always broaden your outlook on life and general worldview; I gained a lot in the 2 years I was in school. But as for a job, well, recent statistics show that only 25% of college grads will be offered jobs---and they are never guaranteed a salary large enough to cover student loans and living expenses.
I've heard it all. A dear, dear friend of mine just graduated with her master's in Public Health and has been struggling to find a job...finally, she found a position with Susan G. Komen, after a year or more of searching, and is only making 35k. She is not happy at all that I'm planning on skipping the whole college route and heading straight for retirement. The way I see it is you go to school to be offered jobs that pay 6 figure salaries....but that's what I'm already making, right now! And yes, I'm aware that my time is limited. So wouldn't it make sense to do this while I'm young and return to school later? If I feel the desire to at all, that is.
So what do you make of people who are skeptical of dancing careers? I kind of feel like they're stomping on the floor and screaming "I struggled through sleep deprivation, poverty, ramen noodle diets and cramming for tests and so will you, damn it!"



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