I hear some odd things from some people about my choices in life, especially from my DBF's academically-uninclined family and their friends. It's like they view graduate school as a means of escaping the real world for another four years. If it's mentioned that I'm not intending to get either a resume-enhancing masters or a professional degree, I get asked "So why are you going to graduate school? What are you going to do with that?"

No, it's not extreme sports, but people seem to view it like it's College: Part II and a means of avoiding real work and responsibility.

And since we're on the topic, I don't want kids. I don't like kids. I don't want to give up my life and career to reproduce. I don't have the patience or stress tolerance to deal with them. Knowing my luck, they'd turn out like me. I was obnoxious until I was 16 or 17. I don't want to deal with that!