I started off in the military as an electrician for four years. I got finished my enlistment at 23 years old and immediately went to work in outside sales for a private electrical company. I did that for 9 years before I finally went back to school and earned my Bachelor's degree in a field of humanities (my true passion) using my GI Bill (which was just barely enough to cover my BA). While I was in school, I also got married. My goal was to go to get my MA and eventually my PhD, and then become a professor or teacher. But as I was in my final semester, Covid hit and funding for nearly every humanities MA program disappeared overnight which left me with no way to get funding to continue school, despite my 3.9 GPA for my undergrad.  
  
With having zero job prospects in my desired industries (museums, teaching, etc) with only my BA, I was forced to return to the only job I could find after nearly a year of looking and draining my savings - the sales job I had before I went to school. That was a year ago and I'm still with the same job.  
  
The job pays well but I have literally zero interest or passion for it. It's exactly why I wanted to leave in the first place, get my degree, and start a new path in life doing something I was actually interested in.  
  
During the past year, we wanted to escape the ever-increasing rent prices, so we bought a house. My spouse is a teacher and only brings in around 25% of our household income, so we *really* depend on mine. My income is okay. It's not great. It's not bad. It's enough to barely afford a cheap house, pay our bills, and save a few hundred a month.  
  
But I am depressed now because of my job. I feel like I am wasting my life away, sacrificing my own interests, my own time, my own existence so that we can have a house. I despise sales. I'm an introvert with social anxiety. Nothing about sales is enjoyable. Nothing. In fact, it drains me on every level.  
  
I have been looking for other jobs over the past six months, and the only other people who want me are for other sales jobs, and ONLY in the same industry.  
  
I want out so badly, but I can't find a way. It is absolutely soul sucking. I can't take a lower paying job because we just bought a house (it's a very modest, small 800 sq ft house - we aren't living a lavish life here lol).  
  
I keep asking myself if I can see myself doing this job for the next 20+years, and the answer is undoubtedly no. I figure I have a year, maybe two at most before I have a complete mental breakdown. I am already severely depressed by this whole situation. 
  
I could really use some advice here.