1200 occupations are listed in the current Occupational Outlook Handbook, put out by the U.S. Department of Labor. (It still doesn't mention them all.) This marvelous volume takes nineteen general classifications, and gives detailed analyses of individual jobs within each. The classification "Marketing and Sales Occupations," for example, is broken down into Service Occupations, and under that is a description of flight attendants' work.
It describes the "Nature of the Work" (to look after the passenger's flight safety and comfort); "Working Conditions" (must remain pleasant and efficient regardless of how tired they are); "Employment" (54,000 jobs last year); 'Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement" (opportunities for advancement to other jobs are limited); "Job Outlook" (competition . . . very keen); "Earnings" (averaged $21,000); "Related Occupations" (tour guide); and "Sources of Additional Information" (there's a listing of many sources here). It offers a thorough and concise overview of each job, and practical help for those who want to research the job further.
Skimming through the "Working Conditions" sections gives you an idea of the occupations that involve travel. Travel agents are among the more obvious ones. For instance, the Handbook tells you that travel agents work mainly in their offices, but they have wonderful opportunities for reduced airline fares and free trips. Then there are the not-so-obvious cases. You discover that insurance people travel. Not the ones who call you on the phone every month to ask for an appointment, but those who are claim adjusters. These people must be on the go constantly to assess damages to insured properties. This, of course, must be done "on site," and "on site" can be anywhere.
Geologists travel. "Most divide their time between field work and office or laboratory work. While in the field, geologists often travel to remote sites by helicopter . . . Exploration geologists and geophysicists often work overseas or in remote areas." (They need cooks at those remote areas. Can you cook?)
Personnel specialists "visit college campuses to interview prospective employees." College campuses blanket the country.
Construction inspectors for state and local governments "spend half their time traveling to construction sites and making inspections."
Speaking of the government, it's not only the Peace Corps that takes you to out-of-the-way places. Teaching in schools at overseas bases for the Department of Defense has been covered in the book, but what about the Department of Commerce Trade Development programs, and the CIA? The latter is not for everyone, but the agency is constantly recruiting linguists, economists, and even history majors.
Health service administrators travel to inspect health care facilities.
Buyers in the retail and wholesale trade spend several days a month on the road.
If employed by a large firm, accountants may travel extensively to audit businesses or work for clients. (If that sounds dull to you, don't dismiss the field entirely. One enterprising young man became the personal CPA for a well-known movie star, and spent three years on the jet circuit with her.)
Appraisers find travel opportunities. For instance, a woman who had spent most of her life surrounded by fine antiques and had no formal training did have an invaluable gift for judging value. She's now paid huge sums to travel the United States in order to give others the benefit of her expert opinion.
"But I'm a carpenter (or cosmetics saleslady, or sports fan)," you say. "All this won't get me anywhere." Use your imagination. Don't touring theater companies need skilled people to construct sets? Don't cosmetics manufacturers need traveling sales trainers? Don't sports teams need equipment managers when they travel?
Use your ingenuity! Peruse books like the Occupational Outlook, but don't stop there. Examine your lifelong interests or volunteer work for possibilities. 'Take-off points" are everywhere. Even your church work might serve as a springboard. Inquire about positions on the national level within your denomination that offer travel opportunities. Investigate your church's structure to pinpoint where the jobs are. Conferences and workshops are carried on all over the world. You might end up involved in work you believe in, keeping faith with your volunteer commitments, and still find yourself enjoying the life of a PT.
That is just one more of the many opportunities waiting for you. Find your own, and when you do, work hard, get paid as you go, and don't miss the pleasures of new people and new places. As one PT put it, "To me, one of the key things about traveling is not going and looking. It's in trying to get to the essence of what makes each area and its people special. What do they value? How do they spend their time? Wherever I find myself on my travels I try to make the most of it-and that means taking in both the sights and the insights."
