HgaleK
Distinguished Member
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- Jan 7, 2009
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Ibankers, accountants, consultants, etc. need not worry about this thread.
Background: I worked every summer since before it was legal for me to do so as an electrician. I got my license when I was 16 and loved working. Wake up at 5:30, take it easy, to work by 7, done by 5, either chill with the guys after work or go home and ***** about it for 5 minutes if someone would listen, and then repeat except on the occasional Sunday. No office, minimal paperwork, tangible results from your work, great group of people, and it was satisfying. I fantasize about this **** every day of the week.
Currently: I don't use my TV, love sleeping on my futon, eat meals that are satisfying enough every day at $20/week. I've been biking more, boxing, working out, and volunteering at the animal shelter frequently. This is the happiest I've been in ages, even though I'm living on relatively little. It's been a bit of a revelation that I don't actually need the GQ/Esquire lifestyle to be happy. That lead to me looking at what I actually want in life: a good dog (probably adopted puppy if everything is in order, but dog gets expensive), a wrecked SV650 (1.2-1.4K), mountain bike trails, boxing ($40-80/month), surfing, a library card, chill people/friends, a satisfying job, and lots of human interaction. It's an oversimplified list, but I've been managing fine on $50 a week for a while now.
The plan: I'm a finance major, but only halfway through sophomore year. If it was doable, I'd go for history of western civilization, organic chemistry (I love the science, hate lab work) or literature. Currently I'm thinking about finishing finance, getting a job as an electrician again (if any are available- contractors are taking projects at a loss in Austin, and government work is the only thing available at the moment), get my journeyman's license, work as a journeyman while I work toward my CFA, and then get a "real job."
Plans change though; electrical gigs aren't always available, and I'd probably go batshit if I got my CFA and was stuck in an office- 100k and up or not. I'm looking for alternative jobs that are satisfying and involve people (I found out recently that I get severely depressed without people around). I've been looking at: firefighter, emt/paramedic, vet tech (I think a degree may be required for this one though), and mechanic. Anyone have any recommendations or experience with regards to jobs that you're happy to go to? If the pay can cover a cheap apartment, gas, a dog, cheap food, and boxing (most of the rest of the things are one time costs), then I'm happy with it. If there's a little left over at the end of the month, that's even better.
I'm also somewhat interested in the jobs that require a bit of education. If I remember correctly, Pio has an MPH, and seems like it's something with high satisfaction. I just don't want to end up worth 8 figures and hating life. I don't want to be AB/Metro either.
*Sorry about the length and the wordiness- ephedrine does this to me sometimes.
Background: I worked every summer since before it was legal for me to do so as an electrician. I got my license when I was 16 and loved working. Wake up at 5:30, take it easy, to work by 7, done by 5, either chill with the guys after work or go home and ***** about it for 5 minutes if someone would listen, and then repeat except on the occasional Sunday. No office, minimal paperwork, tangible results from your work, great group of people, and it was satisfying. I fantasize about this **** every day of the week.
Currently: I don't use my TV, love sleeping on my futon, eat meals that are satisfying enough every day at $20/week. I've been biking more, boxing, working out, and volunteering at the animal shelter frequently. This is the happiest I've been in ages, even though I'm living on relatively little. It's been a bit of a revelation that I don't actually need the GQ/Esquire lifestyle to be happy. That lead to me looking at what I actually want in life: a good dog (probably adopted puppy if everything is in order, but dog gets expensive), a wrecked SV650 (1.2-1.4K), mountain bike trails, boxing ($40-80/month), surfing, a library card, chill people/friends, a satisfying job, and lots of human interaction. It's an oversimplified list, but I've been managing fine on $50 a week for a while now.
The plan: I'm a finance major, but only halfway through sophomore year. If it was doable, I'd go for history of western civilization, organic chemistry (I love the science, hate lab work) or literature. Currently I'm thinking about finishing finance, getting a job as an electrician again (if any are available- contractors are taking projects at a loss in Austin, and government work is the only thing available at the moment), get my journeyman's license, work as a journeyman while I work toward my CFA, and then get a "real job."
Plans change though; electrical gigs aren't always available, and I'd probably go batshit if I got my CFA and was stuck in an office- 100k and up or not. I'm looking for alternative jobs that are satisfying and involve people (I found out recently that I get severely depressed without people around). I've been looking at: firefighter, emt/paramedic, vet tech (I think a degree may be required for this one though), and mechanic. Anyone have any recommendations or experience with regards to jobs that you're happy to go to? If the pay can cover a cheap apartment, gas, a dog, cheap food, and boxing (most of the rest of the things are one time costs), then I'm happy with it. If there's a little left over at the end of the month, that's even better.
I'm also somewhat interested in the jobs that require a bit of education. If I remember correctly, Pio has an MPH, and seems like it's something with high satisfaction. I just don't want to end up worth 8 figures and hating life. I don't want to be AB/Metro either.
*Sorry about the length and the wordiness- ephedrine does this to me sometimes.