Fuck this, I'm going to open a beach bar in the south of France

[VogueVVague]

Interested to hear what your "ive had it, I'm getting out to go and _" pipe dream fantasy is when you've had enough of the grind/normal life.

Also, if anyone has any stories of how they totally changed career path I'd be interested, I'm in my 30s and want out of my current (extremely boring) industry. I have the beginnings of a plan but would like some success stories to make me feel like i can do this.

And I'm also in my 30s. Anything is possible!

I'm running away to open a surf shack on a sandy warm beach.

I did it in my 30s - lived in Vietnam for 3 years!

I'd like to open a cafe/bookshop on a narrow boat on the Norfolk Broads. I could live there with my cat and dog, and possibly a donkey or a goat or something. Bake delicious cakes and people could sit and eat whilst they browsed through the wonderfully eclectic collection of second hand books I had for sale, whilst watching my donkey graze comically and peacefully outside.

Of course, I'd be pestered by all the people wanting to write romantic comedies about me, but it would be fine.

Better do it before Brexit

I couldn't face going back to an office after babies. Now I run a dog walking business. On my personal facebook page I like to wind office based friends up with photos of 'my workspace today'. Hills, forests, lakes...

I'll never be rich, and we still have to go even when it's tipping with rain, but days like yesterday make up for every sleety soggy winter walk.

I would be living somewhere quiet, if anywhere quiet still exists and finally getting a proper art studio and workshop, and a cat or 12.

@chickenowner
What did you do there?

On shit days at work my colleague and I always agree that we're going to run away and open a feminist pub. We're a bit stuck on how to fund it, though...

will you have legal right to work in France after Brexit?

Sometimes I want to run away and live in a lighthouse where there's lots of storms and just write. The stairs put me off though

I'm going to live in the middle of nowhere with only retired horses for company! I dream of sitting in a field surrounded by horses, they'd have to be companion horses rather than riding horses though, couldn't get on one these days.

Topical story on the BBC today

Living on a rock in the North Atlantic

I'll come too, I'm an experienced bartender and I used to live en France so I speak the lingo and understand the natives!

I would love to be working with clay and doing something creative. There’s something about clay that I am attracted to, but I imagine it’s not easy at all.

I would love to be making stuff all day. I’m 40 now so maybe it’s time I stopped pretending to be interested in other things and just go for it.

I did it when my husband walked out on me. I’ve opened a museum in France, and my tea rooms in the stable are opening in the spring! I decided that the worst had happened, so nothing to lose really. I love it.

Why do people want to open cafes or bars? Perhaps they think they'll be sitting in them eating cake/drinking beers?! In reality, running a bar in a busy tourist resort in the Med is exceptionally long hours and not really a passport to riches either, there's not much of your own beach time. Cafes comes and go all the time and lose money very quickly unless they have a USP.

I know it's not in the spirit of the thread, but I'm just intrigued by why this is the dream. It's like the running a B and B dream- I know someone that does something similar and it's lots of cleaning and changing sheets in other people's filthy rooms, unless you can outsource it which is harder than you think.

I'm going to Aus to live on a ranch.

Why do people want to open cafes or bars? Perhaps they think they'll be sitting in them eating cake/drinking beers?! In reality, running a bar in a busy tourist resort in the Med is exceptionally long hours and not really a passport to riches either, there's not much of your own beach time. Cafes comes and go all the time and lose money very quickly unless they have a USP.

I think people know that it wouldn't be like it is in their daydreams really - that it wouldn't be all having lovely conversations with the regulars and living an idyllic country/beachy lifestyle - but for most people it's just a fantasy, so the hard work of it feels a bit irrelevant. A bit like fantasising about marrying a billionaire and so getting to give up work - the reality of it would be a bit shit in many ways, but as a 'getting you through the afternoon in the office' fantasy it's nice!

My fuck it, I’m off....up a mountain in Peru. I would teach in a mountain school and enjoy a quiet, fulfilling life.

I'm going to live in a city loft above a workshop/studio - rent out space to artists (to help pay for life) and teach jewellery making and beading on small bespoke courses.

Beach Artist. I'm going to travel the world making sandcastles.

Spring, I’m opening a tearoom as we spent a year working out what would be the most cost effective and profitable extension to the business. If you’re in a tourist area providing food and drink is usually an option. We had to provide lots of evidence for planning permission and worked with the local chamber of commerce to plan it. It’ll be really hard work, but luckily my daughter is joining me and all ready has extensive experience in catering. There’s still time at the end of the day for a glass of wine in our lovely garden and the odd day of playing in the museum!

Newlifeisstarting I didn't mean to pour cold water on your new venture, sounds like it is well planned financially and you have expertise in the area already- so it's a great idea.

Most people who think about it and some that even do it don't have that much experience and cafes regularly change hands all the time in our areas as people find out what hard work it is and what it costs to keep one running, even in a touristy area.

I already do the job I love so in my case, I'd like a housekeeper, cook and cleaner to do everything else and leave me to do my work!

Vogue

I'm a primary teacher - I taught at an international school in Ho Chi Minh City. It was the loveliest job ever, maximum class size of 20, a full time TA, Asian children with parents who respect education and teachers, etc.