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hiker1
Since 01 Jul 2007
125 Posts
Portland
Stoked
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 Mon Sep 15, 08 5:36 pm |
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| pdxmonkeyboy wrote: | | Yeah,I probably make twice as much as you do, but then again, you get almost 400% more vacation (read kiting) time as I do........yeah, the grass is always greener on the other side of the 401k and I know your just searching for a good idea, but you should be stoked, you got it pretty fucking green. |
Probably best to talk about this stuff over a beer, after a great sess!
I am stoked, yet still looking for even a better set-up. I think careers can be like kiting, we are constantly reevaluating our gear and upgrading to a new year of kite or quiver. Other times we get stuck with no wind.
Some of this is also midlife, I'm a divorced (and involved) dad in my late 40's with 2 teenagers. If I was a younger man (pre-family obligations), shifting would be tons easier. Mid-life adds a little more urgency to getting dialed in. 
I am trying NOT to settle and put the career thing on cruise control. I think folks can create the life they want with a lot of work and a little luck. Hope you find more kite time Monkey --- you, me, and the rest of this forum deserve that!!!
I'm gonna keep my eyes on the horizon till I figure this shit out. And while I'm looking, might as have a damn good time kiting!!!
Last edited by hiker1 on Mon Sep 15, 08 5:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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hiker1
Since 01 Jul 2007
125 Posts
Portland
Stoked
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 5:44 pm |
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| blancoh2o wrote: | | pkh wrote: | Firemen have nice schedules and seem to get a lot of kiting in, and they have great benefits. Maybe Steve can weigh in on it.  |
If you are in your mid 20s, you are already behind the 8 ball on getting hired. A lot of our applicants have had to educate themselves and get experience for more than 5 years before the fire department even looks at them. Thank God, I have been in this career for 20 years now. I would make a lousy candidate at my age.
There are a lot of hoops to jump through, but worth it for sure. |
Hey blancoh2o, great tips for anybody --- pushing 50, I probably missed my chance to become a firefighter (looked into becoming a smoke jumper many years ago) --- but did want to say thanks for all y'all do on the front lines protecting life, nature, and property!
Last edited by hiker1 on Mon Sep 15, 08 5:50 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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hip in white salmon
Since 11 Jul 2007
149 Posts
Stoked
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 5:46 pm teachers have it all...yea right |
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PDX...yea everybody wants to be a teacher June-Aug. I notice that hundreds of positions go unfilled in Wa and Or the other 9 months cause its alot harder then you think to manage 25 plus kiddos at once. If it's that great...get on it and join the fun and the 30K a year starting salary. 
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Chooch
Since 18 Nov 2007
1871 Posts
Wicked Pissah
Boston Tea Bagger
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 5:53 pm |
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I am a Unions Sheet Metal Worker (Heating Ventalation and Air Conditioning) and am stoked on my schedual/flexability/pay. I typacly work from 6:00 to 2:20 Moday-Friday so I can be on the water by 3:00 every day after work and have my weekend all to myself. Plus as a Union member you have the option to take layoffs, collect unemployment and kite every day  As a single guy I could easily work 6 months a year and kite the rest. The schedual is very flexable and its not hard to make a good name for yourself in the trade. Plus the pay and benefits are better than you could guess. When I get about 2000 hours in the year (typical hours) my pension is usually around $12,xxx compounded each year, then our medical/dental/vision plan is top notch (even better than govt. plans), on top of that I make $35 an hour so the paycheck is still very nice
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hip in white salmon
Since 11 Jul 2007
149 Posts
Stoked
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 6:01 pm trades |
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Yea Chooch...that's the deal.And I don't think its all that known. I am a shop teacher and I regularly discuss union apprenticeships as a great option for my students. Sometimes I wonder why I don't take my own advice. But it's a heart thing...helping students has its own rewards. Too bad I can't take those rewards like frequent flyer miles and take my family of 5 somewhere warm on vacation in the winter.
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Chooch
Since 18 Nov 2007
1871 Posts
Wicked Pissah
Boston Tea Bagger
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 6:09 pm |
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| Yeah Union work is great. Plus I got 4 years of schooling for free from my union, anywhere else I would have to dish out thousands of dollars to some trade school to learn my craft. Its funny, I went to collage for 1 1/2 years and decided to drop out and get into construction, now I make 2x more than all my collage buddies that went to school for 4+ years and are still paying off student loans. I feel really lucky to have the job that I do. Construction can be very rewarding work and some of the stuff I get to do is really amazing.
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pdxmonkeyboy
Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 7:44 pm Re: teachers have it all...yea right |
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| hip in white salmon wrote: | | PDX...yea everybody wants to be a teacher June-Aug. I notice that hundreds of positions go unfilled in Wa and Or the other 9 months cause its alot harder then you think to manage 25 plus kiddos at once. If it's that great...get on it and join the fun and the 30K a year starting salary. |
I never said it was a cake walk, I'm just saying you get the summer off.
I deal with tons of shit at my job, just like everyone does. Well, I probably deal with a little more shit than most but whatever.
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Kraemer
Since 24 Apr 2006
1736 Posts
Sky Pilot
Unicorn Captain
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 7:58 pm |
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My job sounds good. I work as a video producer/director for local businesses, regional corporations, and the once-a-year music video. It isn't all that it's cracked up to be-- because I really have two jobs. One is for an employer and the other is a free-lance endeavor. My day job I work 9-5. I make full bennies, 5 weeks vaca/yr. Cable/Phone/Internet Free. And my freelance job is where I make the money.
I am also in the cinematographers guild local 488. Union Power ...Not.
If you are a director or a producer...free-lance is where it's at--but it's a tremendous amount of work and lets face it ... I'm lazy--plus I hate L.A.
The going rate for shooting or editing around here is $150/hr. I can make some real coin with free-lance--unfortunately...I discovered kiting and I don't like to take on jobs that interfere with my off time, --but I still do a few projects to keep in the black. Mainly in the winter. A typical freelance job I did recently for a Seattle project: $1800
http://www.eclipsefilms.com/movies/showcasetacoma.mov
I also make commercials for Mt. Hood Meadows, Skibowl, The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, and the Oregon Coast Aquarium along with every mattress commercial you have ever seen in your life...Sorry about that. Even Factory Mattress Warehouse in Seaside.
Best Client to date: Ozzy Ozbourne
http://www.eclipsefilms.com/movies/ozzybobbleheads.mov
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Miner
Since 14 Sep 2008
43 Posts
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 8:19 pm |
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| i dont have a job so i have lots of free time.
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pkh
Since 27 Feb 2005
6549 Posts
Couve / Hood
Honored Founder
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 8:50 pm |
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| Quote: | | along with every mattress commercial you have ever seen in your life...Sorry about that. Even Factory Mattress Warehouse in Seaside. |
What about that one with the shhh'ing kid?
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Kraemer
Since 24 Apr 2006
1736 Posts
Sky Pilot
Unicorn Captain
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 8:53 pm |
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| No -- My partner makes that one--- ultimately the worst commercial in broadcast advertising.
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Kraemer
Since 24 Apr 2006
1736 Posts
Sky Pilot
Unicorn Captain
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Chooch
Since 18 Nov 2007
1871 Posts
Wicked Pissah
Boston Tea Bagger
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kyle.vh
Since 11 Jul 2007
713 Posts
city of angels
Addicted
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 9:31 pm |
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i build websites for local businesses and non-profit organizations.
i work for myself, and get contract work, too. tell everyone you know that I can hook them up with a nice website!
www.guppystar.com
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Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
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| Mon Sep 15, 08 11:23 pm |
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Sofa King!
I want an Ozzy Bobblehead.
Firefighters are cool - my friend and old climbing partner moved to Denver and became a fireman. he has 4 days on and then 4 days off (he had to fight a giant apartment fire the night before I flew out there to go ice climbing in Ouray - he was destroyed from 24hrs of no sleep an andrenaline overdose but rallied and went climbing anyway - superhuman)
My story:
25 years in tech companies (remember punchcards)
Some big companies, some consulting, but mostly start-ups. The majority of the companies I have worked at have been at pace like a meteor was headed to destroy the planet. Can be fun - but not very good for a balanced existence.
Started a software company six years ago from my home, took some risks, but have been growing it slowly. Find something you like (or think you might like) and give it a shot
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Sofa King.jpeg |
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Ozzy.jpeg |
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Go Deep!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eu2pBpQolKE |
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mojo1time
Since 28 Jul 2005
186 Posts
Stoked
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| Tue Sep 16, 08 1:48 am Software business for 13 years |
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I love it and have had a good time with it for a while. I kite up to 90 days a year, do my own schedule, and work from my house....it is pretty cool if you are good working remotely. I do different types of deals for small, medium and large companies in software security (media delivery)....really interesting, but challenging at the same time. I have done the consultant route too, I would take 10 weeks off a year and still have a flex schedule, that was a nice deal but more stressful than working for a cool small company.
Anyhow....my 2 CENTS
PS...just write out exactly what you want on a sheet of paper and head that direction....surprisingly you will get there sooner than you think, I have notes posted all over my office:)
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Lance
Fully addicted |
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fisherman
Since 06 Aug 2007
113 Posts
Stoked
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| Tue Sep 16, 08 4:58 am |
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I was under impression that teaching is a mission.
No wonder kids these days can hardly do anything with teachers thinking about everything but teaching.
At least you are not thinking about having sex with your students like some teachers ( mostly females), you sick puppy.
Go and get a real job like most of us and stop thinking about yourself all the time.
Something hard so you'll miss teaching.
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