Some happy INTPs

[bryancarney]

I've seen the threads on lack of ambition, inability to stay interested in anything, seeing the only value of money as free time, and so on

Most of them involve everyone saying me TOO! (me too).

How about some people who are relatively happy with where they are, career wise especially, but also just general life situation to serve as inspiration for the rest of us ? Any succesful writers? Everyone wants to be a writer, but I suspect its partially because it means we wouldn't have to do something else. Writing can suck too, its much easier to just work out the ideas in your head without dealing with that tedious explaining...

p.s, I'm new to the group.., in an independent studies degree which lets me switch majors every term and still come out with a bachelors! perfect! but my only sense of satisfaction still comes from the evasion of work...

[Rogue Reverie]

I'm new... so bear with me.
I have had five jobs in my short lifetime, all part-time and all for more than eight months (so I'm not one of those people who decides to get lethargic after two days of introductory hell and quit) and the only satisfaction I have had in any of them is working by myself at (roughly) my own pace, doing something that give me expansive time to let my mind wander.
that happened to be cleaning hotel rooms.
now if only I could find a job in the professional world that lets me work like that, without toilets or making beds, then let me know what it is. Other than writing, because writing is exhaustive due to the intricate detail with which you must explain everything.

[tragula]

I'm also new. And as I've mentioned on another thread, basically pretty happy! I agree that some of the postings on other threads seem pretty down and even troubleing...

Being introverted I think probably inherently involves a lot of suffering, probably from the very start of life.

But while I've had my dark days, now, in my mid-thirties things are really very good. Tried a few different things carrer wise, was a book editor for a while, and while moderately successful I ended up quiting because of tediousness and boredome and wanting to explore other things.

Now as an "undiscovered" artist and At Home Dad, I am my own boss (unless you count my two year old,) and life is looking pretty sweet. Of course not many people would look at my life and immediately think "success!"

[bryancarney]

I can't imagine too many better situations than stay at home dad.. except that I probably romanticize it in that I imagine all the wonderful free time once all that parenting stuff is out of the way. But maybe, like being an effective manager, competence really does work out to you having to do very little..

It has always been one of my escape plans from work, but its a rather difficult thing to aim or plan for. Plus the prospect of having children dependent on me is rather frightening at this point.

[aquapink]

I'm a happy university student, double majoring in mathematics and integrative biology. I find cell biology *quite* the fascinating =) Finally, I have found something at university to become passionate about! I hope to get a Ph.D. in cell biology one day...

Btw, this is my first post. This forum is great!

- Helen

[Avengardh]

I am quite happy at the moment, since school is almost over and I only have one semester left (wonderful Physics II-calc based and Flash animation awaits me next semester).

I'm not sure that everyone in here is just not happy per se, I think that most of us could use some contentment, but I think we come here to just find such (or to just rant and laugh about things only we could understand).

For me, happiness comes in waves, it isn't something that will stay with you forever, and I like it that way, because then I appreciate it more.

~*Aven*~

[flan2dave]

I am quite happy at the moment, since school is almost over and I only have one semester left (wonderful Physics II-calc based and Flash animation awaits me next semester)

I'm just about wrapping up my second calc-based physics course (electricity, magnetism) and I can say without indecisiveness it's the best course I've had.

Here is today's highlight with this intp teacher: "Did you ever hand in your test? I don't have it, it seems to be lost, for whatever reason. I don't want to say sorry because I can't be sure who's guilty in this situation. I'm not implying anything, of course, it's just a mystery so no responsibility can be placed. *ponders for a bit* Wellll, I guess I am sorry. But that's not necessarily an admission of guilt. *a little while later* Oh wait! I think some papers dropped out while I was taking stuff out of my trunk. *class scheduled to start while he goes hunting*. Ah-ha, I was right."

heh, I'm not making fun of him actually, he's really good. Hopefully you're just as lucky, or unlucky depending if something important gets lost. :)

Anyway, my mood has its ups and downs (it seems to average to zero, like a sine function), I'm relatively content but I wouldn't be if I didn't expect to do and learn new and interesting things in the near future. Reaching my goals (more ill-defined than the word goal might suggest) is the most important thing.

[jjt]

I'm basically happy. I've had depressing unhappy INTP moments but mostly when I was younger (late teens early 20's) when I had periods of feeling a lack of direction, confused, misunderstood and alone.
I've done a lot of things that have made a difference. Like self development courses, (Landmark forum - the nature of being for Human beings) where I got the hang of actually being the one who made my life happen as opposed to being someone who complained about stuff happening but had no control. I also learnt to overcome incredible shyness and relate to people at parties without getting drunk, and be at home with myself.
Anyway ... I think I'm pretty lucky and now have a great life, a wonderful husband who completely understands me, 2 neat kids, a job and interests that I'm passionate about, adequate income, etc. But now my attitude is - if there's something I don't like, what am I going to do to change it? ... instead of moaning about it and being a victim. ( Well that's the theory, and it works most of the time.)

[waxwing]

I don't really consider myself unhappy. Yes, I have periods of depression, but even that is a sort of unfeeling mode. Right now, despite my lack of direction and my cynicism towards many aspects of tradition, religion, and family values, I am here. I'm not sure if being in "survival mode" constitutes being happy, but I get through my days, trying to find meaning in whatever comes my way. I always like the Hermann Hesse quote: "An easy life, an easy love, an easy death -- these are not for me." I think I do crave intensity in many ways, possibly resembling another personality type more in this respect. I don't know.

I was really content lastnight at work when I was at the group home and "my guys" and I were listening to Johnny Cash Christmas. The individual with autism who is mostly non-verbal began humming with the music. I said to myself: "God, this is what life is." Then two of the other guys in the house were bickering about which one was going to marry me. Then, the one asks me to come to his defense: "Vanessa, can you explain the difference between love and like? You know, like tell him why he can like you but he can't love you." "Uh...Sure, let me think about that."

Funny.

[Birdsnest]

Short answer:
Yes, I consider myself happy with the choice of job I am doing, (Accounting Technician).
_______________________________________________________________
There are things that could be better, ie would rather not have to deal with people face to face so much, but that is in the works, and may come soon. Currently I am about 7ish happy/content on a scale of 1-10. The fact that I am introvert and not as social as others takes the points down. But I love what I'm doing, which is accounts payable and principle cashier in front of finance office.

I would ideally love to telecommute-and work from home, now that would really make me happy. Wouldn't have to buy clothes, pay for gas, or take time off for personal things. Imagine.