Seasonal Employment and Your Future

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Permalink Reply by Jim on May 31, 2009 at 9:10pm

It seems you are a real drifter, so why not find a company that hires seasonal workers but offers year round employment? This would give you some stability and allow you to have a home base and possibly climb a couple of steps up the corporate ladder. DNC in Yosemite is what comes to mind. I worked there 3 summers and met many people of all ages who'd done what I'm talking about. They arrived, worked a season and loved it, then stayed on. The pay, even for people in management, is very low, but they have decent benefits and get to live in a gorgeous spot.

If you do pursue your bouncing around, you will probably have a great life for the most part, except when you get to the age when the aches and pains set in, the health issues arise, and you end up who knows where.

Is college out of the question for you?

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Permalink Reply by Nancy B. on June 2, 2009 at 12:44pm

These days it appears to me that living "off the grid" might the safest place to be--don't you think? I have lots of college, lots of degrees; I invested in a 401k; I was "stable" in my work. Guess what? The bottom fell out of everyone's hard earned assets last October. Fortunately, I have always been cautious about living within my means. Anyone who is in a position to successfully live on minimum wage might turn out to be the smartest cookie in the jar! I look at Doug's situation and honestly believe he is in a much better position than many of those staid folks who played by the rules, attaching to the grid, buying over priced homes, and keeping American companies solvent with their 401ks. I vote for happily "bouncing around." None of us is safe from the day the aches and pains set in and health issues arise. Age happens no matter how you lived your life, eh? Maybe demanding physical work, daily exercise, and good nutrition will help you in the long run way more than any college degree?

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Permalink Reply by Douglas Magnuson on June 4, 2009 at 6:01pm

Well said Nancy. Wow, you really know how to make a situation positive. I love your reply! I've been here at Mount Rushmore for about a week now and there is this little ol' lady (mid 70's I believe) who has been bouncing around from park to park for years and years. She is as upbeat as any 20 year old and everytime I run into her my day becomes perfect no matter what may be bothering me in the back of my head. I'm learning that little things like this are worth more to me then just about anything. Just a tidbit. Thanks Nancy, gotta run!

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Permalink Reply by Douglas Magnuson on June 4, 2009 at 5:44pm

Whats up Jim. Yeah, I'm working for Xanterra and more then likely will become a "core employee" which allows me to bounce around to their different properties while maintaining full time status. I will however look into DNC now that you mention it. I do have a year of college under my belt and plan on taking online classes here and there when I get use to my new lifestyle.

Thanks for the insight Jim.

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Permalink Reply by Julie on June 2, 2009 at 6:05pm

I really admire you all and am intrigued. Doug- 32 isn't really that old, and I sort of feel like for you it will all fit into place. At least you are thinking about it all, and you know what really makes you happy. Everyone questions "things" about themselves. We all do...

And about me. I don't have children, I have 26. I am a school teacher in a small town in Massachusetts. I've always done the right thing: save money, put myself through college, get straight "A's", establish myself as a loving, caring teacher. And now I want to leave for a while. I am referred to as "Miss T." more than I am called by my first name. I am loved until 3 o'clock everyday from Sept. to June and then I go home to my empty house with a cat. I live in a less affluent town, don't have many friends although I am really outgoing, gregarious, and happy, and I am leaving because maybe it is less lonely to be alone in a beautiful place than to lonely be "here" in a not so beautiful place. My students will be tracking my trip through my blog- and will be cheering for me along the way.
I am envious of all of you who can leave and be free. I am loved here by my community and my kids, but don't feel like I am "at my best" yet. I am scared and excited, and not abandoning the thought of leaving for good.

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Permalink Reply by Rob on June 2, 2009 at 6:28pm

Doug, meet Julie/ Julie, meet Doug. How cute. :)

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Permalink Reply by Julie on June 2, 2009 at 6:59pm

Aren't you a funny bunny :) First time I've laughed in hours...

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Permalink Reply by Rob on June 2, 2009 at 7:34pm

I'm glad......you need to be someone not defined by Miss T! Go grab a big armload of life!

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Permalink Reply by Julie on June 2, 2009 at 7:50pm

Thank you! I will. I am a server this summer...not even telling anyone that I am a teacher. It is a teacherless summer, err, except for the blog with my students. I can't abandon them altogether...But to everyone else, I am just Julie. A freckled, redheaded, Red Sox fanned Julie.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy B. on June 2, 2009 at 7:53pm

Yay Julie! You are who you are--no need to be "defined" any other way! You met the conditions, fulfilled a dream, succeeded, and now you are off to test the waters on a different kind of life! Very accomplished. Very brave. Well done. IMHO.

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Permalink Reply by Rob on June 2, 2009 at 8:07pm

Good for you fellow server. I'm glad to hear you are out having a good summer. Sounds like fun staying in touch with the blog too. Your students are lucky to have such a nice teacher.

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Permalink Reply by Julie on June 2, 2009 at 8:14pm

Hmmmm...Sometimes nice ;) ;)

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