Gadling

Lots of international hostels ask for your occupation as well. I usually put "astronaut."

I have used "I am a businessman."

I love the vagueness of it.

I tell people (with a very serious look on my face) that I work in High Speed Aluminum Tubing. You always get a puzzled look from them and you can see their brain start working as they try to figure that one out.

Like most of the airlines right now, things are so crazy where I'm at that even though I love to fly and see the world- I am looking for something else. Two Involuntary Furloughs was enough and I won't come back from a third.

My mom is or I should say was in the business and her husband is a pilot. They now own and operate a charter business with another pilot. Some of the stories she has told me has either had me rolling with laughter or shaking my head in shame that people can act the way they do. Like you, she loved her job but age caught up to her but she was able to find other ways to stay in the air when her time was up, like bringing medical needy children back from other countries. She worked her backside off and still does and loved every minute of it. I for one still ooh and ah over someone being a flight attendant. Good luck and fly safe, all of you out there!