If you weren't nobility, and lived in Downton at that time, what do you think you'd prefer to do for a living? Work at the Abbey in some capacity, or in town? Being in service seems like it would have been a hard job, but most of the jobs in or around town seem bad as well. I suppose I would have just gone to seminary and became a priest in the Church of England (Episcopal). That way I could have still drank and had sex with women, and no back breaking labor.