You’re So Lucky

When you go to parties or catch up with old friends, one of the questions that gets asked is “What are you up to these days?” People usually talk about their jobs, and that can lead to a question along the lines of do you enjoy what you do?

I’m a zookeeper. When I bring that up, people get very excited and immediately ask what animals I work with. I tell them all the big ones. A lot of people don’t know what a dik dik is or they don’t really care about birds or kudu, so I tell them about the gorillas, cheetahs, and leopards that I care for. That leads into the questions of how I interact with animals. Do I get to touch them? Feed them? What’s the day to day life? Eventually, we get to the “do you enjoy your job?” question, but it’s usually phrased as “do you love it?” As if there’s no other option but to love being a zookeeper.

The answer is yes. I do enjoy my job. I’m learning a lot. I get to interact with the animals and train them. I get to be a part of projects to make my zoo better, and I feel like I’m growing as well. A couple years ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of talking to my boss’s boss–because how dare a small plebeian like myself talk to someone so important–but now I’m having conversations and email chains with them. So, yes, I enjoy my job. However, in a conversation with someone outside my job, the same phrase shows up several times:

You’re so lucky.

There’s a lot of people out there who dream of working with exotic animals. It’s a competitive field. Some people don’t get the chance or their lifepath takes a turn that they stop chasing that dream, or they can’t handle the financial struggles of a zookeeper–because you can’t support a family on a zookeeper’s pay. I’ve had a couple people tell me they’re living their dream vicariously through me. They want to hear all about the happenings at the zoo because even though they can’t follow that dream, they can still feel it’s there when they talk to me.

The truth is I am very lucky. I’m lucky that I had family that encouraged me to not settle. That supported me when my dreams shifted. I’m lucky I have a mother who was willing to put up with me living at home until I was 29 because I was trying to pursue this dream and others. Not a lot of people get that. Not a lot of people can chase their dreams because they have to choose something to help them survive financially instead. So, I am very lucky and very happy to be a zookeeper.