I admire the winners who choose to open their own businesses: what independence, not having to work for someone else. Then, again, I admire winners who choose to give back to their communities by volunteering their services -- helping others without payment.

If I am a lucky winner, I am not working anymore because I enjoy travelling. I would have my itenerary packed with 'must-things-to-do-and-see before I die.' There would be no excuse why I should not follow my dream -- unless of poor health.

Finally, for me, there is much more to life than working. There are very few people who enjoy getting up each day and looking forward to working for someone else. Work should not be a duty or a chore; it should be a sense of enjoyment and fulfillment -- not torture!

I agree with you totally except for the 2nd part of your first paragraph. There are many forms of charity, I wouldnt volunteer, I've done it before and it's not what it's cracked up to be, not very fulfilling or enlightening.

I've actually been unemployed for over 9 months in the past, and I'll be honest -- I had NO trouble enjoying it ;) I think there are some people who have the knack of being alone and enjoying themselves by reading and puttering around by themselves, and there are other people who need to be surrounded by other people and interacting with others (introvert vs. extrovert, perhaps).  On the other hand, I wouldn't want to be a total hermit...there were some weeks where I didn't leave the house at all during my unemployment (no real reason to), except when my husband would occasionally drag me out to see a movie or something. I'm not sure how emotionally healthy that is, in the long term.

I'd be ecstatic to quit my job. But I also wouldn't want to sit around on my butt all day. I'd want to find some sort of volunteer work to do for 2 - 3 days a week. That would keep me active and off my butt, and keep me from being a total hermit, but it also wouldn't feel like a "daily grind" kind of job, you know? 

This is actually interesting.  I think you can tell if people are happy with their current jobs by the answer to this question.  As for me I would continue to work at my job.  I probably wouldn't work full time but still, I like my job and I wouldn't want to sit around doing nothing.

 Brad

I think it depends on the place you volunteer at, and how they're run. I volunteer at an animal shelter occasionally, and I personally find it very fulfilling (if very saddening). I also occasionally volunteer at a women's shelter, and it's certainly enlightening, and I'm glad to be able to help those women.

There are other places I've volunteered at, though, where the help did not feel appreciated, and it was not a positive experience. You just have to find the places where your efforts can best be put to use, and where they are well organized, using the money efficiently, and people appreciate what you are doing.

You got to do something.You can't just sit and watch tv all day or hang out drinking in some bar.So maybe some sort of work or schooling on a favorite subject would do great