Ladies: Would you work if you didn't HAVE to?

[robsmom]

Well i am one of the oddballs who answered other. To me it hinders on the definition of "need to work". I think that I don't "need" to work. If we really had to make a change we could have a nice life on DH's salary but I am not sure that we would have the financial security that we now have. I don't love my job but most days I don't hate it either. I have a pretty good paying position and my job gives us a lot of extras in life, college savings, retirement savings, and a safety net. If either my DH or I gets laid off at some point we will be fine for an extended period of time. We like knowing we have 2 options because we both work for companies in professional /manager type of positions. Corporate America being what it is the odds of any one person making it to retirement without a major hiccup are getting slim. Eventually one of us will getting downsized, forced to retire early, have our job moved or outsourced, company will be sold. etc.etc. In addition, i work because I have 18 years into a career and I don't want to disrupt that now. Sometimes i think about taking a few years off but i know the long term cost of this is much more than what i would not make in those few years. So, all in all I work not because I "have" to but because I think it is the right and responsible thing for me to do for my family.

 

[teras75]

No way would I work if I didn't have too!! Simply for freedom. The freedom to go on trips or have the holidays off. I would love to stay up late and sleep all day with no responsibility! My kids are older, they can take care of themselves!

However, after a little while of that, I think I would like to go back to school. For what, I don't know. I think I would like to be a student forever! Always learning something new.

My job is a high pressure sales job, it pays well, but if I could kiss it goodbye, I wouldn't give it a second thought!