Scantlings

Four months to go, then I'm out of this job that I despise. So far there are four people who know of these plans, Lin being one of them. None of the people I work with know about this.

Then we spend three months sailing around the island, up the inside and down the west coast.
When we come back, hopefully we'll have a better idea of where our future lies. If it was just me, I would have no problem, but it's a mutual future and it's still pretty cloudy.

Four months. I'm never going to make it.

Hang tough Ish, you will be out of there before you know it!

Good for you Ish.

One day many years ago I picked Spike up from grade school, it was close to my office. He was probably in 3rd grade.
When he got in the car he said, "When I grow up I want a job like yours."
I said, "Oh, you want to be a yacht designer?"
He said, "No, I want a job I like."

Hang in there Ish.

I kept a job I really despised because the compensation was really superior. When I finally left, I took 6 months off to recover health and energy enough to get back into the grind. Ended up in a much better position at 2/3 the compensation but 10% of thetravel, a dependable 45-50 hours (opposed to 80) weekly and a much better atmosphere. I may work a few years longer, but I'll live to see retirement now.

It's a good thing you recognize your frustration and have an exit plan.

Gee, I had no idea that being a ministerwas such a wretched occupation.....

Doesn't sound like a gorilla with a flashlight, Ish. All the best,

I've had four jobs in my career and three were school with a salary. I liked all of them.

Maybe it's that church where they wave snakes around. That would be terrifying.

That sucks Ish that you have to hang that long. I know the feeling. Shipping out traps you aboard some pretty crapped out ships run by tyrants and a-holes. I worked myself up and out of that situation . Don’t forget to take a boom box to work on your last day and play “take this job and shove it”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPrSVkTRb24

bob perry wrote:Maybe it's that church where they wave snakes around. That would be terrifying.

Especially for the snakes.

This is closer to my ministry:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqhlQfXUk7w[/youtube]

Thanks for the good wishes from all, it makes it easier somehow.

I pulled the plug on my career a year and a half early. I loved what I did, but it was not until I stepped off the merry-go-round that I realized I had lost sense of perspective of how all-consuming it was. Since then, I lost more than 25 pounds, my blood pressure is normal for the first time in 15 years, and I do a WAY better job than the cleaning ladies did. Plus, my wife is perfectly happy to keep playing in the orchestra, so I cook and clean and catch up on 10 years worth of projects.

Sorry to hear that the current situation is untenable ... just keep a picture of Hot Springs Cove handy and remind yourself of delayed gratification. Methinks once you have cast off and headed north, it won't take long to get in a good head space.

Interesting conversation. I sympathise with you Ish. I actually have a great deal of respect for people who can stick with a job they despise. It reminds me of Charles Dickens's 'Great Expectations'. I don't remember if it was Jaggers or Wemick, but there's a scene where Pip is walking home with one of them after they left their office. As they were walking home, Pip noticed his demeanor change from sad and depressing to joyous and happy the closer they got to home.

Point being that there's much to be said about keeping work and 'life' separate. Of course, I'm the worst to advise such a thing. I haven't kept a job at one place for more than 5 years . My choice. I will say I intend to make my current employer my last one. I've got maybe 15 years and I love the company and the work I do. It's a big enough company that I should be able to keep from getting board.

You'll make it Ish. I envy you.

Hang in there, Ish.

There are all sorts of ways to look at how long 4 months is. Some of them make it seem like a lifetime, some like it will pass in a heartbeat.

You have a finish line -- something tells me that you have to find comfort -- joy even -- in knowing that it is approaching, and that you know right where it is. And that the part of your "working life" left ahead of you is way, way smaller than the part now behind you.

I have no idea where mine is, at this point. That doesn't bother me -- at this point in my life, I tend to move the goal posts around from time to time, depending on my mood and ambitions du jour. But, there is definitely a part of me over in the "I envy you" camp with Rick.

You'll make it!

Four months? A co-worker retired today. My admin is retiring next Friday. For some reason, I got up in a really bad mood this morning. Four more months? All I can say is, think positive. Just think positive, every day! Pat

Three months.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN7qNMWywSE[/youtube]

Ish wrote:Three months.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN7qNMWywSE[/youtube]

Too long to start counting sleeps--but not too long to start thinking about when to start counting. Perhaps you can pretend you are at boot camp--don't count the days, count the Sundays. Or, you could take the academic approach and read 'Images of Organization' by Gareth Morgan ... your present situation might fall into the 'psychic prison' chapter....

Cheers

R

This thread reminds me of a quote...

King:....Hey, Taylor, how long you got left? Three hundred and what?
Chris Taylor: Thirty-two. Three hundred and thirty-two days.
King: Xin loi, my boy!
Crawford: I can't even remember when I was 332, man. You gotta, like, count backwards or something. You know, like, you got 40 days in. I mean, think positive, dude.

Ish the saying in commercial shipping is.”signing on articles is Monday, and every day till you sign off is Monday, and when you do sign off it’s a Friday” In my life I am missing a shit load of Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Just starting to pick those days up now.That’s a great clip of my favorite tri Geant struttin her stuff. Crazy place to be is on that Geant fore deck at 28 knots doing a spinnaker hook up.

Less than 3 months to go, Ish! Hang in there. : )

School starts in two weeks.
We have 5 or 6 people signed up for ASA-101/102
Two boats.

now if it would please warm up????
(According to the state legislature, 60 degrees is freezing in Texas)

Two.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5qakFIecBU[/youtube]

bob perry wrote:When he got in the car he said, "When I grow up I want a job like yours."
I said, "Oh, you want to be a yacht designer?"
He said, "No, I want a job I like."

This is a typography poster made to order. I might have to make it, with your permission Bob.

Ish, hang in there dude, two months will be over faster than you know.

I have a real timeline. I gave notice of my upcoming retirement today, the clock is ticking. Now I can plan in public.

I had a glass of Grand Marnier tonight, in tribute to my friend Len, who decided to amass real estate for a secure future instead of enjoying life to the max now. His only tipple was GM. He was the same age as me, shuffled off this coil five years ago. His widow has a very nice piece of waterfront.

So do we, and it's forever changing.

Ish wrote:I have a real timeline. I gave notice of my upcoming retirement today, the clock is ticking. Now I can plan in public.

I had a glass of Grand Marnier tonight, in tribute to my friend Len, who decided to amass real estate for a secure future instead of enjoying life to the max now. His only tipple was GM. He was the same age as me, shuffled off this coil five years ago. His widow has a very nice piece of waterfront.

So do we, and it's forever changing.

Ish, congrats on making it official. Two months will fly by.

Sadly, in my line of work I see what happened to your friend Len, all too often. At all ages and from many causes. Some folks like to think that early death or illness happens only to those who smoke, drink too much, are overweight or blame some other "habit".
Truth is ... we don't have all the answers, crap happens sometimes to those who don't "deserve" it. We can't change genetics, don't know all the risks for everything and no matter what, life can seem way too short even if you live to 90. Many years ago, my eldest brother died suddenly and unexpectedly. It taught me at a young age that life is incredibly fragile and there are no gaurantees.

Even as I type this... the three year old son of my best friend is battling Stage 3 cancer. The little fellow is undergoing weekly chemo and facing a scary surgery once the cancer has shrunk enough.

A reminder to get out and live ... ride some waves, hoist some sails, go bunging jumping or hang gliding, paint, create, teach, give loved ones an extra hug, forgive, reach out, mend fences and make the most of each day.

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived."
-Helen Walton

Four days to go. It's starting to be real.
A bunch of people wanted updates, so I started a blog. Hopefully there will be enough connections around the island to keep it updated reasonably frequently.
http://paradigmchafe.blogspot.ca/

Ish wrote:Four days to go. It's starting to be real.
A bunch of people wanted updates, so I started a blog. Hopefully there will be enough connections around the island to keep it updated reasonably frequently.
http://paradigmchafe.blogspot.ca/

Have fun in ... dare I say it ... the archipelago!

Two days ...
So pleased for you that you are young and healthy, and anticipating a wonderful adventure ahead. Very cool

(My count down is just starting ... four years, two months and one day. : ) )

Congratulations Jim!

a countdown! that's a great idea!

15 years, give or take a dozen months

SO.... should some of us be counting up or counting down with negative numbers???

(Those of us who are fully focused on doing precisely whatever we wish.)

B?

Congratulations and Good Luck! Pat

BeauV wrote:SO.... should some of us be counting up or counting down with negative numbers???

(Those of us who are fully focused on doing precisely whatever we wish.)

B?

I like the way you're thinking, Beau. Sometimes I think I'm already retired and I'm just doing this stuff for fun.