What are you going to do?

So when I tell people I'm getting a master's degree in math, the typical response is something along the lines of "What are you going to do with that? Teach?" as if that is the only possible option.

Now I have no personal problem with teaching, in fact that IS what I would like to do with the degree I earn. The world is in dire need of good math teachers who understand the subject, and I think myself a good candidate for the position. But I didn't really go into math so that I could be a teacher. I could have gone into economics or history to do that. Why can't a person just do something like math strictly because they like the subject?

It is almost as if the person is asking the question "What do you want to do when you grow up?" Remember when you got asked that? My answer --at least to myself-- was usually something along the lines of "Why can't I keep doing what I am doing?" and that applies to what I am doing now. I want to go on learning everything I can, focusing on math in particular, and then share it with those who want to know more themselves.

Maybe one day I might say to myself "Well self, that was fun, but what next?" and if that day comes, then I'll deal with it then. I'm sure I can find a decent profession with the background I have. But until then (and I am perfectly fine if "then" is not in my lifetime) I say keep on doing what I love for a profession. Learn more about math and share it with others.