Alternatives to 'traditional' employment

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How much Chinese have you learned so far?

People tend to like it if you speak a little bit in their native language.

Only 2 words.

Hello and thank you

First of all you are extremely heroic to relocate to China and I am just full of admiration. It will be an important milestone in your life and a great learning experience. About the upset tummy, I have the same reaction to spicy food, if you like it, as Kraftie says, you will get used to it hopefully. Look at you thinking outside the "cube" and choosing a courageous and innovative path I am so proud of you I really am. How is Mrs cube acclimatising? Did you travel together? I seem to remember that there is a Mrs cube.

I will PM you again from my computer not my phone, see if it gets to you this time cube.

To get back to the OP:

As others have pointed out, there are many variations on ways to get enough money to live on.

I'm wondering if what would help you most are some examples, or the experiences of others.

For myself, although well educated and talented, I could not keep a job longer than about 18 months before I was bored to tears and frustrated by the higher ups.

I have been surprisingly successful at running my own business. It is small. It is a lot of work. But I make a decent amount of money and do the best I can for the people I serve.

Are you thinking of any alternative in particular?

For several years I worked from home as a freelance editor. I bought a bunch of cheap and used editing books and taught myself editing skills. I found clients on Upwork. For a while I was an independent contractor working (also from home) for a company that had me editing research papers for authors who aren't native English speakers.

I never earned more than a few thousand dollars per year even though I eventually increased my hourly rate to $30–$35 per hour. There weren't enough clients willing to pay decently, and the work was too stressful for me anyways. Trying to find clients outside of Upwork would overwhelm me. So I've given up this work.

If I can get the technical knowledge I need, I'll try to work as a technical writer on Upwork.

"...only three main options" implies there are other options that aren't "main".

So, one could probably expect the non-traditional ones are found among the others.

I was obliquely referring to combinations of 1, 2, and 3 as "other" options...

1 & 2: A partnership.
1 & 3: A part-time business.
2 & 3: A part-time job.
1 & 2 & 3: Gig work.

Alternative jobs are needed for sufferers of Aspergers.
Finding a job is very difficult if you have Autism/Aspergers.
Very high unemployment rates of people with Autism/Aspergers.