DECISIONS

[Zomboid]

At the end of this summer, I need to sorta decide what to do with my life. I got my bachelor's degree in writing/communications at the end of April, but I haven't bothered applying to anything in my field yet. I've already done enough work in that field that I have a bit of experience and a degree, which is nice, but everything that I've looked at looks boring and shitty.

Here's the thing: I can either keep looking and do the scattershot approach with my applications, hoping that I hit something acceptable to me, or I can spend a few months (I was thinking of going up until early December) working on oil rigs, which means reeeeeally good money, even at the base level, but absolutely filthy, horrible fucking work. If I did the latter, I could pay off some looming debt and likely put a sizeable down-payment on a new vehicle, but I'd be away from home (but still in my province) and hate my life for those months.

I realize that this is one of those first world problems, but I'd still like some thoughts from anyone with anything worthwhile to say.

[Tadao]

My friend used to do the fishing thing in Alaska and pay off huge amounts of bills. You just can't drink. Booze costs 20 times more and will eat away your whole check.

[k0k0]

I am not doing anything with my life, so I can't give any advice, but my sister graduated just recently with a bachelors in some kind of science or something. But she got a job after applying to hundreds of places. You just have to apply to a fuck ton of them...but you probably have to be willing to move.

[Zomboid]

My friend used to do the fishing thing in Alaska and pay off huge amounts of bills. You just can't drink. Booze costs 20 times more and will eat away your whole check.
The great thing about where I live is that I don't have to go as far as Alaska, and booze costs the same pretty much everywhere in the province. A number of the guys who do the oil field thing get into drugs, though. It's seriously a problem of young guys having more money than they know what to do with, a lot of the time.

As a direct result of the oil thing, the province's economy is pretty good, so there are plenty of jobs that don't require moving--it's just a matter of finding one that won't make me want to blow my head off.

[kahljorn]

you probably shouldn't take any advice from me because im kind of a loser but I suggest doing the oil field job, but not really for the money.
i think maybe you'll find it extremely satisfying and not so horrible and even if you don't you'll have one of those life experience things.

like the end of office space

[Zomboid]

I spent a couple summers doing oil field stuff, and the summer that I was at a plant wasn't as horrible as I thought it'd be. The other one was the worst job I've ever had, and then we got shut down and me and another guy got laid off. Still, I made enough money in a couple of weeks, and with the previous summer's tax return, that I didn't have to work at all for the rest of the summer.

I know what you mean, but I don't think there's a lot of satisfaction to be had in some of these jobs--at least not for me.

[kahljorn]

being unsatisfied and partially miserable is what makes it ultimately satisfying and life-fulfilling

[kahljorn]

i kind of want to do one of those winter ice fishing expeditions where you can die but you get paid a shitload, mostly so i can maybe almost die

tadao do you know how i can find one of these jobs?

[k0k0]

If I tried the ice fishing winter deal, I would probably get air lifted off of the boat. I don't do well under super stressful conditions. That's why I tend to take jobs where I can lounge around most of the time.

[kahljorn]

ive never even been on an ocean boat, so I'd probably get all seasick and die from seasickness. not even a cooldeath like beng cut in half by a boat or freezing to death in the water

[Zomboid]

Some of these jobs are pretty dangerous too, actually; a lot of people get injured on a regular basis. A friend in high school had his face burnt pretty badly, and a buddy's younger brother had scalding water or something dumped on him recently. I also remember someone telling me about some guy getting all of his teeth knocked out, or something.

I almost wish death was more likely than a horrible maiming.

[kahljorn]

i used to live in a city with a lot of oil field jobs and people did occasionally die/get maimed/lose fingers and shit

THATS WHAT MAKES IT FUN ZOMBOID

[darkvare]

when i was living in canada one of my friends lost a couple of fingers and still managed to play video games so i say go for the oil thing

ps. you are not asking here just so you can blame it on someone else if you don't like it right?

[Tadao]

tadao do you know how i can find one of these jobs?

My buddy is coming to visit next friday. I'll ask him how he contacted the people. Meth is the drug of choice for Alaskan fishing.

[Zhukov]

Just put off doing something with your life for a few more years; like the rest of us.

[kahljorn]

My buddy is coming to visit next friday. I'll ask him how he contacted the people. Meth is the drug of choice for Alaskan fishing.
sweet

[AChimp]

Doesn't a degree in communications guarantee that you'll be working in the oil fields anyways?

[Tadao]

I applied to be an Electrition in Kuwait 1 year before Sadam set it on fire. Good thing they didn't want me.

[k0k0]

I didn't know Kuwait had electricity yet. I just imagine a bunch of dudes in caves hammering things with rocks. And how did he set stone caves on fire? This is a confusing day.

[Esuohlim]

The process of applying to jobs pertaining to my degree was the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with in my life. Harder than actually earning the degree, and harder than the job is itself. It was month after month of borderline depression, money worries, and hopelessness :lol

So in my opinion, if you have the guaranteed opportunity to earn some money just take it. Worry about happiness later. I don't know how the economy is in Canada but I'm an engineering/physics graduate who actually got to the point where I was applying to movie theaters because I was running out of money. Fuck that shit.

[Esuohlim]

I responded seriously. But I am a serious man now.

[Tadao]

I didn't know Kuwait had electricity yet. I just imagine a bunch of dudes in caves hammering things with rocks. And how did he set stone caves on fire? This is a confusing day.

Well I didn't know bitches could be opaque in Texas. I guess the world is full of mysteries.

[k0k0]

Everyone's opaque. Light travels through us all.

[Zomboid]

Doesn't a degree in communications guarantee that you'll be working in the oil fields anyways?
Not necessarily. It's specialized in writing, so it's a bit more broad, but yeah, in Edmonton, a lot of jobs are still related to the oil field.

Milhouse - Yeah, I expected you to have something to say. The economy definitely seems to be a bit better here, but looking at some of these jobs and thinking about how much debt I have while still adding to it is really depressing. I'm leaning towards the money right now because if I don't, I'll just be broke after paying monthly expenses and fractions of my debt. It really seems like it'll take forever just to get out of the red.

[Supafly345]

Working in the oil rig doesn't sound so bad, the days would probably go by quickly, and as long as your hair was short the filth wouldn't be too much of a bother I imagine. That kind of work really eats away at your health I hear though, so it you are ever gonna do it, do it young and just while young.

[Colonel Flagg]

I was in your position roughly 30 years ago. My decision was to do nothing, live at home and be depressed. That lasted about 5 months, after which I got off my ass and took a job in retail to make some money and stop feeling sorry for myself. I took the GRE, applied to grad school, got accepted, and then spent 6+ years of all work and no pay to get my PhD. After that, it was fairly easy.

I don't really see how this would apply in your case, but it is real life. Really.

[k0k0]

Maybe there's still hope for me to get an education and get shit on track at 30 then. I'll be like whabam! EDUCATION! Then it'll be all, JOB JOB! and then I'll give the thumbs up to myself from 30 years ago.

[Zomboid]

I just added up all of my loans and other debt, and I'm at 36k, which isn't the absolute worst ever, and I'm including 7k of line of credit in there, but it feels like I have quite a bit of digging to do to get out from under all of this.

[Tadao]

Yeah, I'd work on the rig then.

[Tadao]

My friend used to do the fishing thing in Alaska and pay off huge amounts of bills. You just can't drink. Booze costs 20 times more and will eat away your whole check.

i kind of want to do one of those winter ice fishing expeditions where you can die but you get paid a shitload, mostly so i can maybe almost die

tadao do you know how i can find one of these jobs?

My buddy is coming to visit next friday. I'll ask him how he contacted the people. Meth is the drug of choice for Alaskan fishing.

sweet

So he said he went up there with a friend who knew the guy and that's how he got the job, but, he said most people email them and ask if they have any seasonal jobs available.

Here is their website.

http://smokedalaska.com/index.htm

[kahljorn]

thanks

here's to maybe getting paid lots of money for maybe almost dying

[Tadao]

Sometimes it's not on the boat. Sometimes it's waiting at the weigh station in a tent on the frozen shore to help unload fish. :(

[Zomboid]

I hear they also have canneries. CANNERIES! Sometime in elementary school, I read a book about a Chinese guy losing his fingers in a cannery.

[kahljorn]

holy shit that sounds exciting!!

[kahljorn]

whats the best scientist field to major in if i want to be rich as shit

i was thinking of getting a geology degree cuz i guess you can get jobs easy as a geologist with just a bachelors

[Tadao]

How many years into the future are you planning to start a job in getting rich? 4?

[kahljorn]

i dunno

[Tadao]

Well, I'd say an investment broker. You can invest other peoples money and there is no fault when they loose everything. In fact it's set up so that you make money when they lose and a ton of money when they win.

[Tadao]

How about Rastafarian Aerobics. Even my fused spine can wiggle to the sounds of freedom mon.

[Tadao]

Also you are never gonna call the fishing company. The funny thing is my buddy bought a case of smoked salmon from them and brought me a jar. Shit is gooooooooood.

[kahljorn]

hell no i was hoping they just had a signup like RISKYOURLIFEMAKEASHITLOADOFMONEY not that id have to call people on the phone and shit

and also nobody really fishes for salmon in winter i guess the winter jobs are crabbing jobs
i found this one website that had information about winter jobs in alaska and the picture for it was a dude cleaning a pool and there was no snow or ice

also i said scientist not aerobic instructor >:

[10,000 Volt Ghost]

What's the cheapest and easiest way to a doctorate?

[Supafly345]

You can get one here in a year or something http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Bible_University

[Shrubfest]

I'm in pretty much the same position as Zomboid, (minus the oil rig) but refrained from asking you guys what to do as I figured the answer would be 'SEND ME TIT PICS'.

So this was almost helpful.

[Tadao]

Dem titties are past their prime. You should work on the farm.

[darkvare]

i like saggy titties

[Esuohlim]

You all should follow in Chojin's footsteps, he lost 400 pounds and shaved his head and now he's back in school!

A regular toast of the town!

[kahljorn]

yea but isnt he getting his degree in business or something?

i want a degree in something i can be proud of

[Tadao]

He's getting a degree in taking care of business.