What I do for a living will make you uncomfortable.

Me too.
If I say I'm not employed, I'm assumed to be looking for work, I'm not.

I'm a stay at home carer for my spouse who works 4 days per week.
That on its own with high functioning Autism is enough for me to deal with these days.

We're not rich, but we're so far behind the eight ball, it doesn't make sense working ourselves to an early grave to get a mortgage we'll never pay off.

While she's at work, I walk our dog twice, feed him, cook, clean, & attend to other household matters.

If I was not at home doing all of this, my spouse would no longer be able to work.

I'm in my mid 40's & apart from my home responsibilities, the reality is that I have multiple other factors that prevent me from returning to employment.

I am well & truly burnt out, & quit work several years ago after ongoing family illness, followed by deaths of close relatives.

I have few friends, & no longer have contact with my family of origin, due to estrangement I instigated, as a result of historical family abuse.

I bet also that few people who ask it really care what you do. I would guess most people ask it because they want you to ask it back. But I'm not good at interpreting such things for obvious reasons (Aspie). I just think it fills a silence. I prefer silence. Just say 'hello' and let's sit and not talk for half and hour. Fine with me.