I am a banker by day, so my answer will be nerdy. I sometimes get the opportunity to go to conferences for work, and usually that includes some form of networking with other bankers. I always get a little starstruck when I get to chat with people who either work for now, or have worked before, for the Federal Reserve Bank. I’m not sure exactly why, I guess I just think it’s cool that they get to print and control money!
I’m not jealous of them, though I would love to tour the vaults. One person who had previously worked for the Fed mentioned casually that there was a reason they left, inferring that maybe the work life balance there is not great.
On the other extreme, I am always impressed by park rangers. They live a completely different lifestyle from the norm. And they do it out of passion, because they certainly aren’t doing it for the money! From conversations I’ve had with park rangers at various parks, their work days vary quite a bit. One day they are marking trees that need to be trimmed for safety purposes, another day they are conducting search and rescue!
Phantom Ranch employees in particular live a life of almost isolation. They live there, and have to hike in and out if they want to take time off. It would be very hard for me to live long term without the comforts of cell service and diverse dining options!
Two professions, worlds apart, but each leaves me humbled in its own way.
Packing for Adventure 
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