I thought we were all about FIRE on this forum. So I thought most would pick win the lottery because it takes you instantly to FI. It doesn't have to be a mega-million lottery win either. Some lottery winnings are in the $200k-500k range.
So the reasons for winning the lottery, for me at least, are exactly the same as for obtaining FIRE. It gives me the freedom to do what I want, when I want, for how long I want, and as varied as I want. Or to do nothing at all - if by nothing you can include reading, meditating on the beach, keeping myself healthy through good cooking and exercise - no perfect job will give me that.
I still think you're all missing the point. Money doesn't buy happiness. Happiness derives from the things that you do, not the things that you have, and a job is by definition about doing things.
I disagree. Happiness comes from contentment, not from things that you do. Someone mentioned on another thread that FIRE means one can focus on who they are, not what they do. I found that very enlightening.
Some of you have suggested that you would hate any job because you think "job" entails a rigid schedule and an annoying boss. Why is that? Just lack of imagination? Owning your own company is a job without a boss or a schedule. You can pay other people to do all of the parts of the job you don't like. You collect the big paychecks at the end.
It's either lack of imagination, or having been in the workforce long enough to know that a job does require a schedule and boss. Someone eventually is behind writing you that check to do the work you were hired to do and you need to fulfill those obligations. Even if you have your own business you are still beholden to your customers and/or the shareholders to provide value.
Think of an artist hired to do work. Is it a perfect job? Are they free to paint whatever they want? Sure...but not if they are trying to sell their work. At some point, they need to paint what customers want or they will not make any money.
Sometimes I think the people that post on these forums and say they will continue to work after FI tend to be the people just starting out in the workforce, and haven't been tired out by the grind of working full time for 20 years. Perfect job? Sounds way too idealistic.
In some cases, a job provides the context for the things that you do. To extend the TV watching analogy above, a lottery winner can still watch TV all day but only a professionally employed TV watcher can watch tv all day and then get to decide which shows get cancelled or continued. If what you really care about is television, owning a TV network (yes, that's a real job) provides you with the platform to make your dream more meaningful.
Professionally employed TV watcher???? Like some other posters said, let's keep this perfect job description in the realm of reality.
That kind of thing applies to most fantasies that people have. I'm still struggling to think of a dream/hobby that isn't improved by the right kind of job.
Meditation, self-directed art work, helping those in need, time for reflection and prayer...so many things to list that are not "job" related, yet could be focused more in one's life if FIREd or a (responsible) lottery winner.