My dad always said, "If it was fun they wouldn't have to pay you to do it.”

We are all sooo spoiled. I was just reading that the word weekend did not exist before the mid 1900 as no one got them off. Even then it referred to a 1/2 a day Saturday and all day Sunday. It was decades later before most American worked got all day Saturday and Sunday off.

People at work give me grief because I love my job. Would I quit if I won the lottery? You bet! But if I am going to spend 1/3 of my life working, I will love it because I refuse to have a bunch of negativity in my life.

About marrying a rich wife, I default to the words of wisdom from the one and only Jim Rockford. "There's only two things I won't do for money, kill or marry. Anything else I'm open to".

Getting ready to enter the workforce this summer. I'm 3 classes away from having a bachelor's degree in geology from Oregon State. I have no plans to go on to a masters, which is pretty much required for a job in mining or oil exploration. I'll hopefully find something along the lines of a park ranger. Upon graduation, I'm selling all my crap and moving back to Alaska, so whatever I can find there to make ends meet.

I love my job. I have no plans on leaving anytime soon. I think I'm coming on 17 years since becoming salaried. Well over 20, if you include the years I was hourly or a student.

I enjoyed Twitch's story.

I too got a B.S. in Fisheries Sciences, but saw the writing on the wall well before I graduated. The writing said "Stick with Computing".

I keep asking myself what I want to do when I "grow up". Still don't know. Don't think I ever will.

My family always asks me if I like my job and I always respond with a resounding YES. The boss is great...just today I had the day off but went in anyway to do a thing or two because it was too cold to fish. She calls me and is bowed up with a situation and I'm glad to stay and help several hours longer than I planned. That kind of stuff happens pretty regularly. But at the same time, when the deadlines have been met, there is some flexibility. Often times that corresponds to weekdays or when the water is just coming in. I honestly get paid more than what I probably should. Good benefits and I really enjoy the work even though I'm not great at it. I have more finanical responsibility than I probably should but so far haven't done anything to lose that responsibility. Been there 10 years and see no real reason to want to leave...unless it was doing similar work for similar wage in BC. We are lucky to be able to have the wife be a stay-at-home mom. Every year I struggle to take off enough time to meet my mandatory vacation hours. All in all, I have absolutely no complaints. Since I'm married with a family, I wouldn't change anything. If I were single, then I'd want to work in AK in the summer and then take the fall off to steelhead fish and guide in the spring and winter. Yeah, that would be OK too.

Just read Parker's previous post, which led me to Twitch's post.

Twitch that was some story. Fish bio jobs are hard to come buy. Almost need an advanced degree or be willing to tough it out for a long time. I stuck with it for about 4 years, caught a break, paid my dues and then work paid for me to go back to grad school. I got lucky I guess. Yep, lots to be thankful for...like the job in this economy, a goood family, and not being a cooger.

Work to live, not live to work. Love your job or hate it; do your best, work hard, never let your integrity slip, and stay out of the politics, especially the negative vibe many co-workers like to live in. Remember, its your choice to be there. Set a date for retirement and do what you need to do to achieve that goal of retirement. Think long term, not short term. No job stays the same, be flexible and be ready for change in the future. This philosphy got me through my working years.

I have been retired now for four months and what I love the most about retirement is freedom. I can do pretty much whatever I want and most of all I find myself doing things I always wanted to do but never had the time to do during my work life.

Yes and no. I live in poverty to have a job I love. I realize I could be working in some job where I suffer through the days, but make 3 times as much as I do now. Maybe someday things will come through.

I don't especially enjoy my work any more, but otoh I'm glad I have a decent job. We are getting close to paying off the mortgage, and that is the key to our retirement, so at our age I'm glad that we still have paychecks. I can say, though, that I will have no regrets when the door closes behind me as I leave the office for the last time.

Like Todd, I went into fisheries, but saw all the enviros taking over the field, so I went into Fire/EMS, pretty much the opposite of Twitch. Best decision ever! I love the job, wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm not as crazy about the medical side as I hate people, but I still can't imagine doing anything else.

My grandpa told me when I was young to pick a job based on the money, not love of the job. His thought was that if you had to have sex with super models everyday, eventually you'd get sick of that too, but who wouldn't want to try for awhile? ???

No regrets.

Mf

Construction guy....always a new challenge.
Presently hardening infrastructure.....the job is easy, dealing with the gummint is the challenge.
It's been good.

Hehehe.....I would say, on average, about six different people have to say "yes" before I can deviate from the contract documents.
Not to mention at least three gophers shuffling paper.

Now that things are "streamlined" a bit, it takes about 5 working days to get an answer.
That's as good as it gets.

Drive a truck..delivering lumber and such... could be busier... but get to drive all over the kitsap and olympic peninsula looking at the scenery and bueatiful country... I get there when i get there... over time is awesome... when its available...people are super...bene's are good... so yes i like my job... just wish it paid more and the hours were more consistent!!! Fish hard!!!

Sounds like you're on a mission !
Work at it hard and it usually all falls into place.

Food service equipment installers bust their asses at times.
Just trying to get that odd-shaped product in and out of buildings can be a PITA.
Some of those stainless welders are wizards.....

Lol. I am on a design build team for a few small Fed projects. Day one of the first one, I am standing on the site with the Fed project Engineer. I ask him "Does the scope of work require us to replace those beams or repair them?" He answers, "Replace". I said "Okay, well the specs are vague, so I will send in an RFI to harden that up." He agreed that would put the issue to bed.

Later that day I send in the paperwork, and a week later call the PE to ask if we can get that so we can clean up the project docs and make the first submittal. He tells me "I get a maximum of 21 days to answer RFIs, and that is when you will get the response."

About I could do is document schedule impacts due to slow responses and that eventually helped to shorten their response time.
No one on their side wanted to be the bottleneck, so it was a peer pressure thing, I think.

Do i like my job? A resounding yes, moreover I like the company I work for even more. I work for a general contractor in the San Francisco bay area. I started as an apprentice carpenter, turned out to Journeyman. Was assigned lead man status , on to Carpenter Foreman, Assistant Superintendent , Superintendent and now I am Operations Manager, I have a list of field employees that is right around 130 people right now. The best part of my job is watching people develop. I have had several of people I have trained blossom before my eyes, it is very rewarding. As a rule money is not an issue I have plenty of time off, but as Addicted knows I spend the majority of that time working on my house on Whidbey Island. If I were to make a recommendation, follow your passions. if you really don't like doing something don't do it. I know a couple people who have gone their entire careers, hating getting up and going to work each day. That is no way to live .

Do what you love and the money will come.....

I have a friend who is a free-lance masturbater, unfortunately the money hasn't came . . . yet.

RR's words travel far. I had beers with a fellow board member in Chico,CA this weekend. The tramp stamp sig line came up and made us both laugh.

Of course it started with a hottie with a tramp stamp working it. Mike didn't think much of her....I think he's ghey.