Granted for most Runners, the Shadows is pretty much all they do.

However some folk do have the regular job quality or have other things that take up their time when not racing along the razor's edge, with the running being done on the side or possibly financing a project.

I always liked Jeremy Irons talk about how he still acted as he uses it to finance his ongoing renovation of an old castle.

Of course it can lead to all sorts of situations as you may try to keep the two separate, if for no other reason as to not endanger loved ones, though we know how well that usually works out.

For me, it was using the runs to restore a park area in a rundown section, encouraging various fruit bearing bushes and trees to grow as well, which the locals grew to appreciate. The blackberries did very well as it is one helluva invasive little plant, but is fairly hardy and can yield a good amount. Plus when allowed to overgrow barriers, walls and fences the barbed vines also tend to discourage unwanted climbers.

Took a lot of wrangling, trading favours and unfortunately more than a little busting of ganger heads to encourage them to play nice within the area, eventually making it a sort of neutral grounds.

Parts of it got burnt to the ground from time to time, but it's true what they say in that bodies do make good fertilizer so there was a certain justice in planting those responsible there to help the regrowth along.

So what does your runners do to decompress or do they have other lives on the side?

My Face does minor work as an actress between runs. She's a SINner who keeps a respectable front up as part of her cover. She tends to favor Sci-fi movies where she plays the green-skinned space babe as that reduces the risk of someone seeing her and going 'Hang on, I know her from somewhere...' while she's on a run.

I know one character who moonlighted as a male prostitute... He was, how to say, interesting to be around.

My 'fave' character has an underwater/demolitions background, so his day gig is either Dive Instructor (recreational/fun!) or Yacht and boat repair, restoration, maintenance, and carpentry services (harbor/slip/etc related in Seattle is a good thing.) its a Blue Collar gig that allows for reasonable travel in the area (many harbors, etc) in many tiers (rich people yachts, middle/low people boats/houseboats).

My wife had a character who was a plumber.

You'd be suprised how useful a plumber's truck can be when smuggling, getting into places, etc.

One of my characters had a catering service, another used magic to run a salon.

My Decker used to work the red-eye shift at a Stuffer Shack in the Barrens. Nobody ever believed a hotshot console cowboy would demean himself like that, so they never caught on.

Also, free Nerps!

The Nerps alone are worth it.

My face is actually a actor/rocker in employ to horizon he is recording the runs on simsense and editing them for release as a "reality"show.

I had a guy once who was a 12-step counselor who conducted weekly meetings for people trying to quit their addiction to BTLs. I also manufactured them and had a couple of guys baiting all the newer, weaker members of the 12-step group to buy my BTLs for reduced street price.

Soydogs too... Oooh, and Nuke-it Burritos, Yummm...

In a more Pink Mohawk game, one of the Runners was an up and coming GobRock queen who used Shadowruns to raise her profile. They made a Music Video out of busting up a Leather Devils slave trade ring, which climaxed in a duel with a Vampire.

In my current campaign i have a player who lives a totaly ordinary (if dangerous life): He has got a ladyfriend (High-Class business-lady... who is married to someone else), is volunteering to teach the youth boxing and trying to give them perspective and confidence, is heading the local neighbourhood watch and works as a bouncer for a club. and yes: He does have a sleep regulator to have enough time.

The other is an independent chaffeur (And yeah he is "the Transporter", only magical rigger native american... in germany).

And a player not longer with us played a face... Real job: detective... but that was just a cover... to seduce the ladies.

The other dudes are "dungeoncrawling-adventure-machines" with no hobbies or jobs... They live for the runs *g*

Ah, too much cheap fast food?

Got to be the SoyWater... Worse than the stuff you get in Aztlan.

I had a mage who's regular job was cleaning lady and medical deliveries, though it wasn't a "day job" quality in the least; it was random work when it was available, barely enough to scratch by on. After enough runs to build up a big enough nest egg, she bought a cleaning company (low-tier) and became a CEO. Combined with legal knowledge skills, and a bit of a high profile coming out of nowhere, she was unable to run anymore.

I had a sniper/social infiltrator (a.k.a. face) who made clean simsense (adult and mundane). He had a contact just for laundering and stripping identifying information from the simsense on his runs, but graduated to NPC a bit early in his career. Mr. Tso, we hardly knew you well enough... before you abandoned us for "better" friends, you jerk!!!!!!

*ahem*

I had a hacker who was a tech student, and performed minor file cracking and such on the side. GM kind of killed any back story from him early, and I didn't play him much past that. He wound up retiring to manage a club with rotating themes and a Virtual Hostess (agent).

I have a melee specialist (adept) who's day job is classical musician (will need the perform skill in 5e if I remake her).

My most recent character build, done for both 4e and 5e, is a corporate runner. Technically, her "corp job" puts her in the position of running. She's a talent scout/recruiter for Aztlan/Aztechnology. Her recruiting does not consist of extractions, but of actually evaluating people and either presenting them with the opportunity or... presenting them TO the opportunity. Quality of individuals is considered important, as they'll either be resources for Aztechnology's business operation, or they'll be sacrifices (non-figurative) for a better tomorrow.

I'm still looking for a chance to play a Paranoid hacker/Taxi Driver. 90% inspired by Mel Gibson in Conspiracy Theory. But taxi drivers might be rare in 2070

Does coke and whores count as a "day job"? If so, count GT in!

I believe that counts as 'Hollywood executive', though in the right circles it also covers 'CEO'

Heh... Sometimes, I really miss Guerilla T.
Sucks that I missed the game tonight, Te0dio, apologies. Oral Surgery took precedence. I will be there next time.

Riggers make good private security consultants. There's a lot of overlap between classic rigger skills & skills needed to set up security systems.

[Edit:] B&E experts can moonlight as physical pentesters, and deckers as Matrix pentesters. For rich individuals who don't trust their companies & companies that want to check up on their employees.

Former white hat makes for a pretty good background for various characters.