FAQ #10: So, how do you make a living?
:: Saturday, January 20th, 2007 @ 1:20:53 pm
:: Tags: Thoughtful
It continues to bother me that upon finding out that I am an underwater photographer, a large percentage of people I meet for the first time ask, “so, how do you make money?” In my own twisted fantasy-land, I always look them straight in the eye and reply, “none of you goddamn business,” but in real life, I’m not allowed to be that rude. Instead, I reply with a vague answer. Those who are perceptive pick on the cue and don’t follow up, but many continue to follow up with more specific questions, forcing me to go into the complicated topic of How I Make Money.
I was talking with Cindy about this last night after leaving a San Jose tech party, and she thinks it happens because everyone in Silicon Valley is preoccupied with money; they are constantly evaluating and ranking everyone around them in terms of financial assets. How does Eric make his money? Did he make enough at his old startup to slack off for the rest of his life, and is that why is goes on “vacation” every month? Does he really make enough money as a photographer to support his lifestyle? (Cindy gets her own share of questions like this.) One person (a relative stranger) even told me that he had “lost respect” for me because I took a software consulting gig for three months last year. He was joking, but as people say, there is some amount of truth in every joke.
In my experience, it is those of a certain demographic that end up asking the question. It’s the folks with traditional careers and lifestyles, those who go to a specific building / office / cube every day, hit the gym after work, and go home to a girlfriend / wife / kid / television for a few hours of downtime before turning in for the evening. I don’t pretend to understand the motivation that is behind having to find out how I make a living, but I’ve definitely come across people who are envious of what I do. Ironically, it’s often those who are in a position to do exactly what I did that say things like, “I wish I had your life.” I usually point out that they could very easily quit their jobs, buy a camera, and book a trip to Palau. But they’re too afraid to quit, even if they hate their jobs.
When I meet people who are driven by passions and interests outside of the mainstream, the question of money rarely comes up, and this normally serves to make me feel more at home. In recent years, it has been much easier for me to befriend people who are outside of the mainstream: musicians, [some types of] photographers, artist who fuel their passion with part-time consulting, etc. There is comfort in shared understanding, in not having to explain myself nor justify the things I do in life — and it’s not that I can’t do it, but that I hate being put in the position of talking about the things I do to make money, especially to someone who doesn’t have the courtesy to respect my privacy.
my new business card, to be given out when asked prying questions
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sometimes it might simply be the interest that you feel for a friend that makes you want to know how he lives sometimes it’s just curiosity
do you know that in france it is very impolite to ask someone about his money or simply to talk about money maybe you should come live here :)
Eric, I totally understand. Somehow I get those same questions all of the time, and people wonder how I am able to put food on the table and keep the lights on as a working photographer. I just don’t like answering those questions, so sometimes I use creative answers like:
“I am my wife’s pimp” (and vice versa)
“I won the lottery”
“I renovate houses on the side, but it has taken me 5 years to sell the house we are still living in”
“I eat Ramen noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner”
or, the most common:
“None of your fucking business”
I agree, you should have fun with it!
“I am the underwater photographer to the stars.”
“I am THAT good.”
“I sell my photographs, DUH!”
“I have a wealthy benefactress whose initials are Angelina Jolie”
…I could go on and on! :D
Andy: I like it. I’ve updated this post with an image of my new business card. :)
Alexis: It’s different when close friends ask, because it’s obvious that they just want to know how I’m doing with it. My problem is when it happens with relative strangers.
Ditto everything you said
Tell us how you really feel. ;-)
Eric, How about using this picture instead (with Andy’s suggestion)? http://www.calvintang.com/albu.....eyes4s.jpg
What let inquisitive people bother you? Tell them in Taiwanese “Mo-Ni-A-Die-Zee”. Don’t let them change your volition. Take it easy.
I don’t know about other people, and I wasn’t one of the strangers that asked you that, but if I was I suspect my main motive would be to try and figure out what I would need to do to be able to live a lifestyle more like yours. There’s something exciting about meeting someone with a story like yours that taps something I think a lot of us would like to do, but, even outside the risk factor, we’re not really sure how to go about it in a way that could succeed and still let us keep a roof over our heads. The fact that your personal brand is very posh and successful doesn’t really mesh with the popular view of the poor starving creative, so probably triggers an aspect of confusion, too.
I’m not trying to defend the people who ask you those questions, but when most people meet a person who’s able to turn their “dream life” or “dream job” a reality, I think it’s just natural that they’re curious. It’s not necessarily that they’re “player hating”, for lack of a better description, if that’s what you’re thinking. Could it be that some of them actually would like to get some pointers to get closer to that point though?
Of course, you’re the one who actually met these people, so I’m just sitting here assuming things. I have been a consistent reader of your site since your Kilimanjaro entry, I think that was probably 6 years ago. I have to admit I envy your lifestyle, and had the “how does he do it?” question many times, but I don’t think it’s easy at all for me to just quit my job and start doing what I really love to do. Not very many people are in the position to do that.
Hey! I quit my job, bought a camera, and moved to Palau….
nice entry, eric! as a working musician, i can totally relate, man.
there are people who ask me point blank, how i can make a living as a musician. and they get pretty nosey about it. as if to justify that it isn’t a real job.
i make what i would call a modest living as a musician, by playing a variety of venues and types of gigs, from little cafe gigs to big corporate events. and by teaching students.
it’s definitely a struggle, but i figure i’m “hustling” like everyone else. the main thing is that i have a job that i love and am passionate about, and that life is too short to not be doing what you love to do.
but i admire you in going for the career path(s) that you love and have a passion about. and whether you make a lot of money or not, that IS your business and that’s where your passion lies.
you don’t have to justify it, and you definitely don’t have to tell people anything. and i also think it is rude to be asking.
Anything other than the norm is a big fascination to “the mainstream lifestyle” That is why the hollywood tabloids sell like crazy and the media has such a huge influence on all we do. Those that have a passion with a slight talent that could almost make a “creative living” but never will, can immagine it and dream about it and admire those that have the talent and those who took the risk or be in a state of jealous envy. Most that work outside the mainstream or for themselves that have made it or failed all know there was a point or major risk line that gets crossed that many people are afraid to take. Life doesn’t get easier but after that big step if successful, it can get the ball rolling. Although never easy it is not has hard as it was. I like how you didn’t answer the question Eric,eventhough I thought you were going too. I will answer the question for everyone “If you can make images like Eric how would not make a living at this, how would you not HAVE to travel to continue makeing images. Combined with the computer expertise why is this so hard to figure out” right or wrong it is an obvious answer to me so I don’t have to ask and never thought too.
-Photobeat - wetpixel Rules!
For what it’s worth, this summer I was at a party with a number of Europeans, some of whom never set foot in the United States, and some who’d lived here for some time. We had a fascinating conversation about some of the differences between Americans and Europeans. Two observations were shared with me, and seem relevant:
1) Americans seem to have a strong desire to attain wealth, but at the same time, are extremely private and reserved and even embarassed when it comes towards specifics, like salary, cost of purchases, etc. The idea that friends wouldn’t tell each other their salary simply astounded them. But at the same time, we generally love gossip magazines, love hearing about how much celebrities have spent on their weddings, and all that garbage.
2) When two Americans meet each other in a social setting, one of the first questions we tend to ask is “So, what do you do?” For whatever reason, it seems important to define and classify someone by their job from the outset. At this particular party, I found myself surprised that no one asked me what my job was. So when someone has a “non-mainstream” job, I think it throws people off a little bit.
I found both those observations really interesting and thought-provoking. Maybe it provides some insight into why people are so curious…
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I agree that this question is motivated by some combination of admiration, envy (non-malitious) curiosity with a generous addition of tactlessness. I do believe that people wish they could just pursue their passions and make a living at it and I think most (98% of ppl) aren’t brave enough to try. But it’s pretty ballsy and rude to ask flat out as a stranger.
Here are some potential answers: 1. I’m a professional artificial inseminator for killer whales. That’s why my dry suits are always covered in KY jelly.
I really can’t afford this lifestyle, this is why I’m always traveling–I’m on the lam from the law.
Have you ever seen “The Sopranos”? I really can’t elaborate further.
I’m a professional escort with wealthy clients in places like Palau, Irian Jaya, and the Galapagos. I only picked up diving for something to do when I’m not servicing clients.
See this here camera?–it prints money!
I’m a co-founder of Yahoo!
Your wife/daughter pays me well. (Be prepared to dodge a punch after this one :)
heheh
I like the watery font on your new business card! :)
Sooo Eric….
How do you make a living?
:D :D
Eric … DaveP has some good ideas there .. personally I would like to think I could say fuck off ..
other answers though without coming off like an ass:
1)My lawyers told me not to say anything unless represented. It’s a technique that is pending a patent.
2)My mom gives me $50 a week
3)or sarcastically and kinda as if you are thinking it through say “I go into the water, push the button on my camera, get out of the water, download the photo to my computer , email it to someone who buys photos, they email me money … yep .. thats it .. email” or feel free to stop at the downloading to PC part and say hey .. did you know i just started using a mac .. and rant about that like you have ADD
Oh and tell Mike to fuck off !! (it will make you feel better)
Dear Eric:
(i) Do you really think that just anyone can quit their jobs and just go to Palau with their camera? It really depends on where you are in life, no? I have three great children, and I (along with most Americans) simply cannot afford health care premiums if I didn’t have a what you called a “traditional career and lifestyle.” You may think that you are more “courageous” than the rest of us, but I really, really have to consider my dependents before I can make a significant change in my life.
If you had children, would you think the same way you are thinking now?
(ii) And what is so non-mainstream about being a photographer or painter or musician? Keep in mind this quote: “There is nothing more conformist than displays of individuality.” It seems like everyone is trying to be so unique that they are conforming with the trend of trying to be unique.
I’ve been following your blog for four years now, and find the stories and photographs so fascinating that it has now become a habit to check for updates every 2-3 days. I have to agree with Angyl on this one, I am an avid traveler and amateur diver/photographer and know how much money simply taking a week’s vacation can roll you back, in addition to all the investment in diving/travel/photo equipment… so yes, I’ll admit that I’ve often been curious to know how you do it all so well, as I guess anybody else who has to manage their personal finances and keep them on the “plus” side would. No malice or ill will on my part, I assure you.
Dear Emily -
(i) no, I don’t think everyone can just quit their jobs.
The post reads, “Ironically, it’s often those who are in a position to do exactly what I did…” Obviously, not everyone can pack up and go to Palau.
I don’t know who you are, and I don’t know if you made an active decision to have three children or not. But I’m not claiming that i’m more courageous than others. I’m saying that life’s full of decisions, and that many people 1) wish they had a different life, 2) are in a situation to make changes, and 3) are too afraid to make the sacrifices necessary to get there.
If you have three kids and are happy with your life (or are in a situation where dependents hinder your ability to make changes), this post does not apply to you. That is, unless you meet me and pry into the details of my life that are none of your business.
(ii) that quote is ridiculous.
Anyway, I think you might have missed the point of this post.
–
Jean - Everyone always assumes that the trips I take are expensive. They also assume that they are “vacations”. There is no way I’d be traveling so much if all of the trips I went on were vacations and cost a lot of money. I’m trying to build a career here. :)
Dear Eric:
(i) Just because you don’t happen agree with something doesn’t make it “ridiculous.” Is it ridiculous because it sounds so true, and it’s hard to take criticisms that are close to reality?
(ii) If you don’t like it when people pry into your life, why do you keep a homepage where people can leave comments? Isn’t that the nature of the Internet? People were just curious about how you made a living.
I’m not trying to be a jerk. I just think you’re getting wound up over nothing. Why are you getting so defensive about all of this?
Curiosity is fine I post what I want to post, and keep other things private.perple are free to wonder whatever they way. Electronic prying is harmless and easy to ignore - or prevent, if it becomes too intrusive, and most people are polite and respect privacy.
Again, I think you missed the point. I am upset with people meeting me in person and asking rude, prying questions.
(i) just because someone said something once doesn’t make it the truth, nor even interesting, for that matter. Just as you are free to think that it is a nugget of wisdom, I am free to say that it is ridiculous. I take no offense to it, and don’t worry — it is hitting nowhere near home.
I think it’s less a “nontraditional career” thing and more curiosity about logistics. If I met a tech-head who worked at a startup, I might ask them what their business model was — not the same thing as “how much do you rake in?” or “can I copy your business plan?”, but sometimes the answer is surprising and illuminating. It wasn’t that long ago that the idea of supplying a free web service/content, just to draw ad revenue, would have been non-obvious. And sports stars making more money from endorsements than their “day jobs” is a little strange if you think about it.
sometimes there’s an interesting story there, is all. If it’s an interesting story that’s private, that’s perfectly understandable, but I don’t think that it’s private for everyone in a situation like yours. That’s why I might ask, anyway.
or I guess you could just point all us nosey people to your website. Right now the targetted Google ad at the bottom is advertising “How to make $1,000 a week in your spare time from your photography”…
Interesting post Eric. Interesting because it made me realize that never once have I been asked how I make my money. Not once, and it’s been about 7 years since I’ve had a day job. So it made me wonder why people seem to pry into your life in particular.
Maybe it’s the people you meet? You do a hell of a lot of traveling and probably meet a lot of new people… maybe adventurous types who always return to a day job and so they’re jealous. I stay at home emailing editors, writing, or going to gigs with the same band. I don’t get out much.
Could culture/race/stereotypes/ignorance have anything to do with it? I mean, shouldn’t you be in a cubicle building circuits or something? ;) I’m a white guy who hardly ever gets a hair cut. People probably assume I don’t have any money anyway.
I had something else here but forgot. …. Oh, and that quote above is ridiculous. I don’t mean to throw jabs, but I just don’t get it. It’s as counter-intuitive as “when life gives you lemons, make tomato juice.” Maybe it’s too deep for me.
Excuse the fawning tone, but Eric makes extremely good photographs. I’m a diver more than a photographer, but I feel the need to remind us all that underwater photography is very difficult to do. I think Eric makes a living by working for a living. Let’s talk about his results and not his choice of careers. (Of course I’m jealous too!)
I don’t quite get Emily’s quote either. If trying to be unique is conformist, then there would be no unique. What separates photographers, painters and musicians from the mainstream is that they have something called talent…a gift. If doing what Eric does was easy, then everyone would be doing it.
If you replace “photographer” with “vegetarian” and “money” with “protein”, I know exactly what you mean ;) I get beat over the head with that question.
Anyhew, I don’t really have a point other than watch out for falling coconuts. Because I would cry a river of salty tears if any of my beloved coconuts went to waste instead of being used in boba.
And that would be bad.
Since you are my role model in how to make money I find the answer to this question very interesting but I would never ask :)
I’ve sometimes wondered how you do it. I also have quite a few friends who have successfully made a career out of their passions, so my curiosity stems more from a desire to learn about an underwater photographer’s lifestyle than a disbelief that photographers can make a living.
For me, my passion has always been musical performance, but since I lack the talent, I instead follow my friends who have become professional musicians. It’s a strange feeling, paying (a lot of) money to see and hear people you used to share practice rooms with in college. :)
Anyway, I think demographics and ethnicity (I’m Asian) probably play a role in why you get such questions so often. I agree people should respect your privacy, and strangers who ask you how you make money can be very annoying, stalker-ish even. At the same time, it wouldn’t hurt to be a little sympathetic– not to their actions, but to the state of mind or situation which makes a lifestyle such as yours seem so fascinating and envious as to provoke these questions.
Finally, since no one has ventured a guess so far, I’ll say– I’ve always thought you made a killing at Epiphany and used that money to establish a steady stream of interest/investment revenue, while income from selling photos, images, and adspace covers the expenses of pursuing your passions. Of course, I’m probably way off. :)
it’s not easy being a spy. no, it’s not. just try not to hurt the hatahs. =)
probably enough people have weighed in on this, but here i go anyway. :)
first off, prying into a stranger’s financial life is just never okay. it really is none of their fucking business.
that said, it’s certainly a matter of tone - “underwater photography must be a very competitive field, it’s great that you can make a living at it” is really different from “how the hell do you afford your nice house anyway?” i imagine some people try to be complimentary/curious (if awkwardly), but there are others who’re dubious because it doesn’t fit in their worldview of “real” careers, and possibly defensive about their more mainstream life choices.
i’d probably answer: “there are lots of opportunities in underwater photography these days. 20 years ago most of it wasn’t even possible. but you still have to work seven days a week year-round, like any entrepreneur.” and if they continued to press me, i’d invoke Giles’s patent-pending remark. :) that’s probably similar to your current “vague answer”…
re: Emily’s quote, it’s from a column by David Brooks, which is about fashion statements (specifically tattoos), not career choices.
tomato juice, indeed.
uhhh…how do you make your…photos look so damn nice?? Do you take many shots? Or just focus on a few shots perfectly?
wait… so you own a business named “none of your fucking”? :-)
I’m sure some of the more annoying folks who ask these questions imagine that all eric has to do is take a quick dive, take a couple of shots, and then splash around with breaching sharks/screaming turtles/pretty coral the rest of the time. They have no idea what kind of dedication, talent, and devotion it takes to making such beautiful pictures. (and I’d rather you be doing that than being just another person popping out kids because that’s what you’re supposed to do. :) Yer awesome, eric!! (and that quote made me laugh out loud because it was so utterly forced. whatEVer!)
Gee, one of the first questions I asked Eric was what he did for a living. I didn’t see that as being rude. Maybe that’s different than asking how one makes a living being an underwater photographer. The answer is pretty simple. “Just like everyone else. People pay me for my work.”
I get asked what I do for a living all the time, whether it’s on the golf course, teaching a scuba class or on a dive trip. Now, I don’t really like the question because I have trouble answering it. It’s not an unpleasant question when the answer is one word, e.g. I’m a programmer, I’m an Accountant. It is when it taxes us to answer that we find it most annoying. Sure, I’ve been asked that and inferred that the question was, “what do you do that you can afford all these dive trips?” I just give them one of my absolutely partly true answers. I drive a fork lift. And I’m not very good at it.
One more comment. I will always remember an article interviewing a race car driver. He went on a similar rant about how everybody says they wish they could become a race car driver. He tells the off. I will paraphrase, “Nothing is stopping you. Spend your money on an old car and start racing weekends. Spend all the money and time you spend on everything else on racing. Do nothing else. That’s how we all started, asshole. Don’t give me that …but, but shit. You can still do it right now.”
A fellow part time instructor, age 40, quit his engineering job, sold his house, bought my housing moved to Hawaii and became a dive instructor.
Talk about choices… that’s several years i am trying to quit my actual job (icu doctor) to take a year (or a life) closer to nature, diving or something else, maybe become a itinerant diving doc (if that exists :)… And last week i got offered a job in grenoble in another big icu. so that’s for one year or two, and i love it it’s a very “fun” job and everything. but still i don’t get to travel as i’d love to.
So eric, again, you might be living as some others do at night in their paradoxal sleep phase.
george — there’s a difference between:
“how do you make a living?”
and…
“how do you make a living?” “oh, so how do you make your money?” (follow-up) “oh… you sell your photos?” (follow-up) “oh… so you shoot for National Geographic or something?” (follow-up) “do you get enough protein?”
I like your story about the race car driver. That was the point I was trying to make, too (that whole buying a camera and going to palau comment). You know, before we were distracted by the three kids and the tattoo quote. :)
Money -” without it,one cannot “do/buy” anything. BUT, money itself cannot “do/buy” everything in this world.”. The most successful and passionate people usually dislikes or discuss about money- well, because they DON”T need to! The true worth/value(if one really has put it in these terms)of a human being is never measured by how many “extra zeros” in one’s bank account. Only those who are insecure and lack confidence of who they are and what they do commit the truly annoying and totally unnecessary act of asking others how they make their living! Quite frankly, it really is none of their “fuc…g” buisness.
Hi Eric,
sometimes its the same with “usual” job. For example I’m working in a big IT-Consulting company and doing project management for an outsourcing customer. Often people asking me:
“So what are you doing for money?” -”I’m in a big IT Consulting company” “Ah, thats somethimg with computers, yes?” -”Ehm, yes something.” “So, you repair computers?” - “No, I’m more in managing projects” “Ah, so you manage people how to repair computers.” - “No!” “My computer at home doesn’t work. Can you repair it?” - “…!?!?!”
It’s still not as rude as the questions you got, but maybe now you’re feeling not so “alone” when people asking stupid questions. ;-)
Have a nice day and stay in NY!
Regards, Tobias
Hi, Eric:
I am from mainland China and have stayed in US for 7 years. I finished my PhD and started my career in academic. It’s not been easy for a foreigner and I think I am relatively successful in my field. There is one thing (since I started to learn diving) which gives me lots of courage and strength is that I came across many people like you who devote themselves into the passion and doing amazing work!
My parents on the other side of the earth sometimes have the question of why I did not take the ‘usual’ job and live an easy life but instead taking the path to an uncertain and definitely difficult future. I tell them the story of you and many other people I met in this country. They probably can not understand but at least they believe what I said.
I think sometime people may not mean to be rude but just curious to learn more about an example of being successful and try to be one of them. Like celebrities - they can accomplish most people wanted but could not.
Wish you very success!
I haven’t visited your site in a while but I just got through having a big belly aching laugh. It’s a fact of life, there are a lot of people out there with fucking problems. I love your new business card. :-)
Eric,
I love this posting and the replies. It’s fantastic to see how people split this issue so differently. You’ve said in some of your replies that some are “missing the point.” But since this is a self-reflective, pensive journal of yours where you comment upon your daily life and your reactions to it, you actually are the point itself. The problem and reaction need to be viewed with unbiased balance from both sides. Let me explain.
Your posting talks about how rude some are when inquiring about your means to an income–but you have to admit that people (in general) are pretty dumb and can be clueless and rude to just about anyone, so we can safely say their behavior is not about you. They do it to everyone if they’re doing it to you. And this goes for financially successful Silicon valley types and people all over. Boiling this down to expectation and disappointments you become the subject of the posting, since you’re the one disappointed (aka “annoyed”) with people’s aberrant behavior when they pry into your financial life. If we all know people are dumb, why be disappointed with them? I expect their behavior.
The fact that you posted this shows that when people ask you about money it makes you uncomfortable in some way. We all have hot-button issues that annoy us–for some it’s about money, others about love life, others about family, sex, religion, etc. So the real question is, what does it say about you that these financial questions so perterb you?
I would venture to guess–having only crossed paths with you once and found you to be a wickedly bright and driven person–that the question makes you feel like you have to “justify” your lifestyle (and I don’t think that’s the question they are asking you, but I think that’s what you’re hearing). My assumptions–once again these are assumptions I’m not saying I know you well enough–are that you’ve worked your ass off, you’ve managed your moneys, income, and current successes well, you’ve made strong principled “life choices” about how you’re going to live due to these successes, and presto you have a pretty sweet life.
Yes, others will be jealous or envious–that’s just people and how they are. But if you’ve actually earned your successes, why bother hiding it, or getting annoyed when people ask how you do it? There has to be a balance in regards to the people asking the question; what I mean is the motivation for the question is sometimes outright rudeness and boarishness, other times it’s just curiosity by kind people who are not only intrigued by your successes but want to share in your unique circumstances of “good things happening to good people.” It’s up to you to decide which camp they are in.
If you have indeed worked your ass off to get to where you are there’s nothing to hide and the question isn’t rude at all. You may see it as rude, since money issues combined with privacy seem to be a hot button with you, but other people might simply reply, “You know I did really well with my internet startup and I’ve reinvested those profits to finance my passions;” or, “You know, I work infrequently as a consultant to bring in extra cash to augment my ability to do this;” or “You’d be surprised what a niche business I’ve found doing underwater photography–I’m lucky as hell!” Fill in the blank with a direct, honest response that celebrates your hard work, rather than conceals it. If you made a zillion way back when, then, you know what? More power to you. Good things don’t happen to good people often enough so let the world know that it does still happen. And if you’re really turning tricks down in the Haight to pay the bills then tell the world a little time on the street is worth months in the ocean–can’t you see the benefits!” Whatever! Maybe you’re a lost Kennedy from an affair on the side and the hush-money keeps you traveling–celebrate it! I wish I had some hush-money come to think of it. ;-)
You’ve earned your successes, and I think there is nothing worse than concealing them. Human destruction is everywhere, but how often do you get to meet human successes that are really prodigious and celebrate a goodness within us? Your passions are admirable and enviable–think of all the “comfortable” people you know who you despise since they’re so wicked? Just because you are successful and living part of your life as a “dream” to others doesn’t mean you’re arrogant, or conceited, or boarish. They asked, and if you’re really successful financially or otherwise, give ‘em a straight answer. They’re adults. They asked the question. If they can’t handle the answer all the quicker you can rid yourself of them. But I think you’d be pleasantly surprised how many people you find would not be envious or jealous, but moreover they would be really happy for you, and feel lucky to have met you.
‘nuf said.
Eric, you’re taking yourself waaaaay too seriously.
I agree with the above post. Still, when you prominently show pictures of your “LOFT” and when you make sure to use the word “LOFT” to descrive your residence (which is located in San Jose, one of the most expensive cities in California), I can’t see how people won’t wonder how you earn a living. Why not just keep them guessing? ;)
Well, I’m sure that I’ll get more nasty comments because I offended the diety known as Eric.
Whenever friends of mine talk about wishing they could follow their passions but think that it would be impossible for whatever reason, I always suggest they read a book or two by Barbara Sher. You can see her on KQED sometimes. Great stuff.
I understand the intense curiosity about your lifestyle. Too bad some people apparently cannot contain their curiosity at your expense. Hopefully you are comfortable just saying that you are not comfortable with the subject matter and don’t want to talk about it anymore.
dude, when did you move to san jose?
i wish i were living in san jose. that way, i’d be really close to bay 101. i could then pursue my dream of being a full-time poker player. but it’s not that simple, you see. i could’t just drop everything and move to san jose. i mean, how would i make a living?
sigh
how can i expect anything more when people read through my website and somehow conclude that i live in san jose? (not directed at piggity, who knows all)
Doesn’t Eric live in Oakland?