I've talked to a lot of people lately who are thinking about their long-term career prospects and their "purpose" in life.

I'm in an industry that is, and will continue to have a large section of work head to wherever labor is cheapest. It's the kind of thing that makes employees in their 40s wonder, "hmm, where am *I* going to be in 5 years? What will I be doing?"

A person a few desks away is leaving our field entirely to become an organic tomato grower. She doesn't see herself in this industry much longer, if it's still here even.

I try not to think too far ahead anymore, because it's mostly depressing. Though I should be thinking of the long-term myself. Outside of making pizzas and setting up AV equipment, I'm not qualified to do much else aside from what I do now.

But for the more abstract, "purpose" in life, I'm not sure that actually exists. I don't begrudge people who feel they have a great calling to do a specific thing, and are happy doing it, but I think that's a rare case compared to the rest of us.

When I first started in my industry, I wanted to do it more than anything. Over time an d exeperience, it sorta dulled into just a job for the most part; a way to pay bills and get money to do other entertaining things. It's still fun at times, and got better with some employer changes, but it's still a job, not my life.

I think peoples wants, needs and likes change over and over through life, so something as concrete as a "purpose" even if you find one, will mutate and change over time. People change, that's just life. I don't believe anything's so fixed that you could have even a handfull of reasons for being.

But then again, I don't know much. :)