With all this talk of the foibles of job searching, and the clear evidence
that many people jump ship because they find they can't survive, I am
curious who is out there that has actually made that leap into the
"outside" world and now is "retired" from the field.

It seems that there are a lot of people here who may have at one time been
active arcaheologists but who are now off doing other things - and now that
I am joining your ranks I am wondering what what caused you to change?
Clearly no one here has dropped arcaheology entirely, so the love continues
...

If people respond to me (on or off list) about what it was that made or is
likely to make you  leave the field for greener pastures, I will put
together a far from scientific synopsis of what may be wrong or right about
the way we maintain the ranks?

Did the dream wear off?

Were you tired of making zilch and living from job to job despite having an
advanced degree or lots of great experience?

Did you want to grow and get married and have a family?  To have a
permanent shelter over your head?

Did you feel that you had done all that you set out to do?

Did you get too old and frail to do the back breaking work necessary in the
field?

Do you hate cortesone shots?

Tell me.

(names and other particular details will be kept confidential)

        Dan W.
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