shitty job+ money v. living the life you want

Random Female · 06-06-2003, 12:34 AM

I just had yet another discussion/argument with the guy I'm dating about him working a job he doesn't really like because it's necessary to have a good job to pay the bills and whatnot. it IS a pretty good job, monetarily speaking, wtih a decent amount of prestige involved (web/graphic design at paramount studios). However, he doesn't like the work and the people he works with are totally assholes with life views completely contrary to his... plus he drives an hour each way. I can tell it's wearing him down, and when he complains about life I point out that I wouldn't know how to exist doing what he's doing and living for the few precious hours he has outside of work. He has ambitions to do motion graphics, write, teach... i can tell he'd be a GREAT teacher.

In comes the discussion about how hard it is to pay rent, food etc these days. He rents his parent's second house (a 3 bdrm house for $500/month - ridiculously low price for l.a.) and talks about how he wants to be completely financially independent from them, which he could do... get a 2 bedroom apartment on his salary somewhere, i guess. This is understandable, but at what point are you compromising your happiness due to some notion of material success? Am I off-base for occasionally encouraging him to explore his other talents, seeing as he's pretty much unhappy at his job now? I admit that I DO live at home and don't necessarily understand everything of that sort, but it seems like I would rather live in a fucking shack on a mountain if the alternative was doing a job i didn't like. ugh whatever.

FearFactory · 06-06-2003, 12:41 AM

Unfortunately, most people are unhappy with their jobs. It's just something you have to put up with in order to make a living.

Krafty · 06-06-2003, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Random Female
Am I off-base for occasionally encouraging him to explore his other talents, seeing as he's pretty much unhappy at his job now? I admit that I DO live at home and don't necessarily understand everything of that sort, but it seems like I would rather live in a fucking shack on a mountain if the alternative was doing a job i didn't like. ugh whatever.

I definitely do not think you are off base. And I totaly agree with you, doing something I enjoy is far more important than money to me. But I know that some people do not feel the same way, and I totally understand their reasons.

GlassDreams · 06-06-2003, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FearFactory
It's just something you have to put up with in order to make a living.

I don't think that should have to be true.

Krafty · 06-06-2003, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GlassDreams

I don't think that should have to be true.

I agree. And I love what I'm doing now.

Random Female · 06-06-2003, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krafty

I agree. And I love what I'm doing now.

that is awesome. what is it that you do?

sawdust restaurants · 06-06-2003, 01:39 AM

Life's a bitch and then you die
That's why we get high
Cause you never know when you're gonna go.

Krafty · 06-06-2003, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Random Female
that is awesome. what is it that you do?

I'm working with AmeriCorps and I've been traveling around the US for the past 9 months doing anything from family services for the Red Cross in Kansas after tornados, to tutoring elementary school kids, to environmental work in southern floridia, to building houses in eastern north carolina for low income families. I'm currently working with the child life department at the Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Random Female · 06-06-2003, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krafty

I'm working with AmeriCorps and I've been traveling around the US for the past 9 months doing anything from family services for the Red Cross in Kansas after tornados, to tutoring elementary school kids, to environmental work in southern floridia, to building houses in eastern north carolina for low income families. I'm currently working with the child life department at the Arkansas Children's Hospital.

oh my god rock. that is fuckin cool.

crescentfresh · 06-06-2003, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FearFactory
Unfortunately, most people are unhappy with their jobs. It's just something you have to put up with in order to make a living.

I agree. I have a friend who barely got through high school and is working as a hotel maid and bitches about how she wants a good job. You...kinda need to learn a trade, or educate yourself so you can DO what you want. Jobs don't fall in your lap. Usually.

I do believe that if you have the willpower and endurance to work yourself up, you'll get to where you want to be, eventually. But don't expect it to happen in your 20's or even 30's.

Eve · 06-06-2003, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krafty

I'm working with AmeriCorps and I've been traveling around the US for the past 9 months doing anything from family services for the Red Cross in Kansas after tornados, to tutoring elementary school kids, to environmental work in southern floridia, to building houses in eastern north carolina for low income families. I'm currently working with the child life department at the Arkansas Children's Hospital.

how'd you come across that job? just curious...
i enjoyed working as a dancer last year. and i made tons of money. the only part i didn't enjoy was the lax rules - guys could touch our breasts and butt. but i liked getting pretty and i liked dancing... i just didn't like being touched.

Krafty · 06-07-2003, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eve

how'd you come across that job? just curious...

I have a friend that did it and he told me about it. He heard about it from another friend. One of my positions in the program is recruitment, but we do so little because we usually have 6 or 7 times the number of applicants than positions. So, its a pretty small program.

Random Female · 06-07-2003, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krafty

I have a friend that did it and he told me about it. He heard about it from another friend. One of my positions in the program is recruitment, but we do so little because we usually have 6 or 7 times the number of applicants than positions. So, its a pretty small program.

isn't the americorps like the peace corps, though? Isn't it volunteer? or do you just have an actual job w/in that?

DeviousJ · 06-07-2003, 02:03 PM

Ideally, your job should be there to support your life, not the other way around. Many people end up falling into the trap of having to do something they hate, but which they're reluctant to get out of simply because it pays well, or whatever. People with families to support often don't have the chance to find another job, but if you're basically looking after yourself you should be free to pursue whatever line you like

Krafty · 06-08-2003, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Random Female
isn't the americorps like the peace corps, though? Isn't it volunteer? or do you just have an actual job w/in that?

It is a volunteer program and we get a living allowance (not a paycheck) from the US government. However we do have actual jobs inside of that. For example, at the hospital where I am now, I'm a child life assistant and a researcher for the neurobiology pain lab, instead a regular volunteer who reports everday to a staff member and follows them around and helps them out. Does that make any sense? I have a hard time explaining the program sometimes.

06-06-2003, 12:34 AM	#1
Random Female Apocalyptic Poster Location: white folks' ghetto, San Diego Posts: 2,005	shitty job+ money v. living the life you want I just had yet another discussion/argument with the guy I'm dating about him working a job he doesn't really like because it's necessary to have a good job to pay the bills and whatnot. it IS a pretty good job, monetarily speaking, wtih a decent amount of prestige involved (web/graphic design at paramount studios). However, he doesn't like the work and the people he works with are totally assholes with life views completely contrary to his... plus he drives an hour each way. I can tell it's wearing him down, and when he complains about life I point out that I wouldn't know how to exist doing what he's doing and living for the few precious hours he has outside of work. He has ambitions to do motion graphics, write, teach... i can tell he'd be a GREAT teacher. In comes the discussion about how hard it is to pay rent, food etc these days. He rents his parent's second house (a 3 bdrm house for $500/month - ridiculously low price for l.a.) and talks about how he wants to be completely financially independent from them, which he could do... get a 2 bedroom apartment on his salary somewhere, i guess. This is understandable, but at what point are you compromising your happiness due to some notion of material success? Am I off-base for occasionally encouraging him to explore his other talents, seeing as he's pretty much unhappy at his job now? I admit that I DO live at home and don't necessarily understand everything of that sort, but it seems like I would rather live in a fucking shack on a mountain if the alternative was doing a job i didn't like. ugh whatever. __________________ When you hear sweet syncopation And the music softly moans T'ain't no To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. to take off your skin And dance around in your bones

06-06-2003, 12:41 AM	#2
FearFactory Socialphobic Location: the stars Posts: 10,493	Unfortunately, most people are unhappy with their jobs. It's just something you have to put up with in order to make a living.

06-06-2003, 01:39 AM	#7
sawdust restaurants Fucking Creep Location: On the East Coast Posts: 5,992	Life's a bitch and then you die That's why we get high Cause you never know when you're gonna go.

06-07-2003, 02:03 PM	#14
DeviousJ CORNFROST Location: GUREITO DESU YO Posts: 24,891	Ideally, your job should be there to support your life, not the other way around. Many people end up falling into the trap of having to do something they hate, but which they're reluctant to get out of simply because it pays well, or whatever. People with families to support often don't have the chance to find another job, but if you're basically looking after yourself you should be free to pursue whatever line you like