respect, yo!

I posted this at getcrafty and got mentioned in the newsletter! I didn't think it was that well written....but here's my beef with having a crafty job:
I've been thinking a lot lately about the lack of respect given to crafters or people who have crafty jobs. Like me, for example. I'm the manager of a 'paint-your-own-pottery' studio and I loove my job. It's a small business, started by a guy who was 23 at the time (that was 10 yrs ago). I was given the job by the first manager ever, who also loved the job, but went back to school (she's an artiste who felt she didn't get enough respect at this job).
Here's the thing: if I was an office manager, or human resource person, or bookeeper, or purchaser, or professor; my family would be proud of my job, ther would assume I had met my goal and was at the apex of my career.
But I am all of those things. My job is not just painting display pieces (although I do that too)...I have the responsibilities that would be divided into sever departments if this was a larger business! If I described my job in those terms, people wouldn't smirk and say 'how nice' or worse yet, try to pretend that they thought it was 'great' that a college graduate, one with high grades and a bright future, now managed a studio.
I know that they don't respect my job or think of it as a viable future because of the way they talk about it. They patronize me. They refuse to accept that I might have to actually go in to the studio. They whine about their jobs, but refuse to hear me utter one complaint about mine.
And it hit me today: they don't respect my job, because it is fun. Society has taught us that jobs are not fun. Work and Play don't mix. Why is this? yeah, somebody has to clean the toilets (actually, I do that too) but most people I know could have jobs that they really like, but instead they go for the money, or the big goals, or they have a job as a secretary or in a bank, because it's seen as a useful, respectful job.
No one considers that perhaps I like my job because it's something I'm good at. It's not easy, but enjoy doing something I feel good at, something that makes my customers happy. Besides, it fulfills my need for order, bossiness (yes, it's true, I like being in charge), and creativity. I make budgets, schedules, and manage employees. I buy bisque, paint, glaze, kiln supplies, office supplies and party stuff. I plan parties, meetings, classes and camps.
It's a fun job and it's mine and I just wanted to rant!