I am like ...

At one time or another, I have been told, based on results of various personality tests, that I am like (in chronological order):

1. a college professor
2. a scientific researcher
3. a physicist
4. a musician
5. an architect

The first test I ever took in High School (Kuder Preference) had "mechanic" in fourth place which my mother found surprising. I don't remember what was in the first three spots (the important spots) but I think Drama was in there somewhere. Anyway, none of the three were high income areas, which is what concerned my mother. Being an artist is not a simple or easy path, unless you have parents in the field. A lot of the artists I knew in college were exceptions in their families.

The college professor thing (Strong-Campbell) made me happy at the time except it is a little vague. Which subject did the test makers have in mind? Or maybe they just meant that in general I like to hang out with other intellectuals, which is true.

I do like research (Myers-Briggs) and do a lot of it even though I'm not in a formal education situation. I am a learning addict. Not that I learn anything useful or coherent. At least that's what I think until someone asks me a question and then all this information pours out. I hate saying "I don't know."

I did have a thing for physics (Myers-Briggs), twice. Once in high school and once after my children were school age. Physics is a lot of fun. It's an interesting attack on the physical world. I love the descriptions about what really happens, the logic behind it and the cheap experiments anyone can do in their kitchen or back yard. The creative part, that's what I like about it. As a physicist you can make almost anything from common household items.

I would love to make music (Strong-Campbell). Contrary to that, I established long ago that I would rather give my time to other things besides practicing music making. I do like singing, yet I never took lessons or trained my voice. I have a ton of music that I listen to, witness my 12 Genius Mix categories. I even have a country category! I loved watching my brother's short-lived music career and enjoy knowing that he still drums on the side.

The architect thing came from probably the least reliable source, an AOL online quickie test based on Myers-Briggs (but not actually Myers-Briggs which is very reliable). That was intriguing as I have little interest in math although I do enjoy logic. Again, I think it's the creative part. I've expressed some of my architectural leanings by rezzing various dwellings in Second Life.

I used to be worried that none of the tests I took mentioned artist or writer. Then I realized it's probably one of the things they don't test for. Those super creative expressive things are rare anyway. Probably not worth putting in a general personality test.

Also interesting to me is that neither of my parent's professions cropped on on these tests (engineer and educator). I guess your job preferences aren't inherited or even a big part of your environment. Although I have noticed that children who grow up in houses where their career preference is already established do quite well and have less conflicts about their preferences, for example Mozart or Jane Fonda.

Well, back to being me — whatever that means.
Current Fads
Listening. Genius Mix: New Age (based on Enya, Steven Halpern, Constance Demby and others); whirring space heater; spring birds
Watching. High Fidelity (year)
Activity. accepting what is
Gadget. none
News Source. none
Reading. The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien; Story - Robert McKee; The Designer's Guide to Marketing and Pricing - Ilise Benum and Peleg Top; The Mountain Astrologer, Feb/Mar 2010; Mensa Bulletin, January 2010 and February 2010.
Writing. this