1862 posts
Last year I was invited to go on a fishing trip of a lifetime down near Steep Point. It's something I wouldn't be able to organise by myself. I'd rate it as one of my best ever holidays.
This year the opportunity has arisen again. I need seabreeses to make up my mind weather I should do it again.
Here is some background:
I got this new sedimentary job, sitting in front of a computer shifting pixels - I'm a programmer. I got this job shortly after telling my last place of employment to go f*%$k emselves about three months ago - there seems to be plenty of work in my field. At first the job wasn't ideal, but after two months I told them I'm quitting unless I get more money and work four days a week. Surprisingly, they agreed.
For the past 20 years I've been doing another job during January, where I get to tour the country, usually I take holidays or just quit my regular gig to do it. It pays three times more than my regular job, so it's a nice little earner and is pretty good fun.
In 2013 the fishing trip is on again and happens to begin in Perth at the end of the summer job which also ends in Perth.
So it's summer again, I put in my holiday leave for 10 days - so I could do my summer job and the fishing trip, and the boss says..... No
As the fishing trip hasn't been completely finalized, I negotiate with my boss and told him that I need the time off to do this other job which all up is about 4 days leave. I tell him I'll work over xmas and he agrees to me taking the 4 days for my summer job, but not the 6 days after that.
Right now, I'm feeling a bit pissed. At 47 yo, I'm going to be working all Summer again and not doing the things I want to be doing with my life. Crap... I've been wanting a sabbatical for a few years now, but it just hasn't worked out.
I actually, love my job at the moment. But I love fishing with mates at Steep Point much more. Life is short. I know I can get another job quickly.
Tell me seabreezers - should I stay or should I go?
QLD
6525 posts
Well if Newman's any guide, the libs are likely to get in (August) and f*ck the economy royally. QLD's unemployment has spiked nearly a percent since Newman got in (9 months) and it's largely due to him sacking 15,000 odd public servants and instituting a severe austerity regime across the state which has indirectly cost as many jobs again.
So without getting too deep into that, if you have a job in QLD right now and you leave it to go fishing, you're mad.
I suspect the rest of Oz will be similar in a year's time, unless of course the Libs keep Tony as leader, in which case they have a fighting chance of losing the unloseable due to the fact that the man is a running joke and virtually everybody feels the same way about him as they do about finding dog poo on their shoe.
I vote: keep the job, save, wait for world economy to stabilise in a year or three, take a proper sabbatical at that point, go fishing for 6 months or something.
QLD
12365 posts
Go see a psychologist about your hypertension, procrastination, need for approval from others and your smoking problem.
QLD
12365 posts
No need for that. I only drink Angostura Rum and the odd dose of clean sea water.
NSW
433 posts
Late reply but my 2 bobs worth anyway.
At 47 you have wanted to do many things that may have been shelved because of lifes priorities.
At 47y you don't have many years to do these things.
Do it before you are incapacitated by something unforeseen, such as medical conditions, injury which does not heal as well at your age, etc.
Now 60 yo, I was a very fit and capable man in my early 50s but had both knees hyperextended by a couple of morons. 4 bilateral arthroscopies, and a hole in the end of my femur has left me unable to do even 10% of my previous activities.
Until the injuries I still trained daily, surfed, cycled, hunted, spearfished, swam, martial arts, played with my growing kids (Now grown. Try not being able to play with your kids!), done my own renovations, got my own firewood from the bush (legally) helped mates with diary farming, fencing, professional fishing, etc and generally had a wonderful life. Now I am only able to sit around playing pooter, and wishing for the next time I MIGHT be able to do something I enjoy, which is not often.
I am now 10kg over my previous weight, have great difficulty losing it due to being unable to participate in much exercise, (try starving it off. It's like torture), and have twice the cholesterol level of previously. This will bring its own issues, with the obvious cardiac conditions, but also macular degeneration and diabetes, which are rife in my family. I had managed these very well until the injuries.
Throw in depression and anxiety for good measure.
It's scary, but now I look forward to cutting the grass, which I couldn't do for quite a while.
A bit long winded, but farking go!
QLD
12365 posts
^^^ Don't stress it Jim. Each day you breathe and LIVE is a blessing. If you have pain, it can be managed.
Cultivating and maintaining a positive mental attitude and a general "joi de vivre" can do wonders for your health.
I have two years on top of your 60 with Arthir Osteo and Debi 2 coming to live with me 2 year ago. Only genetic thing I know of is splitting nails.
Debi 2 I believe has entered the realm of being pandemic with it's increase in places like Asia and Africa. I am sure it is because of the highly processed foods that are foistered on us by the multi-nationals.
I have it on good authority from my 82 yo step Dad that Krill capsules are great for O.A. and cholesterol and general well being. Lots of omega 3 in 'em. I am starting on 2 a day then to 1 a day after a fortnight. 50 cents a cap seems reasonable.
Something I got off the net recently:-
10 Foods NOT to eat.
1. Concentrated orange juice. The sugar is intensified and the fibre has been taken out of it.
2. Margarine. No explanation needed.
3. Whole wheat bread, pasta and pastry. They put your body into fat storing mode.
4. Soy milk, tofu and generally soy products. Most of it is genetically modified and/or the beneficial part of soy removed.
5. Corn. Mostly it is G.M'd. High starch causing excess blood sugar.
6. Energy bars. Highly processed with high sugar. For sport a spoonful of whole honey will do the job better.
7. Soda and soft drinks. No explanation needed.
8. Tinned soup. Very high in MSG.
9. Microwave pop corn. Really bad with trans fat.
10. Low fat labelled foods. Highly processed with harmful flavour enhancements and preservatives.
Happy, healthy and prosperous 2013 to all. Cheers Cisco.
NSW
433 posts
G'day Cisco.
I'm not as much of a miseryguts as my post sounds, although for a while I was.
It takes time to overcome lifes trials
One thing these experiences do is to have a better understanding of the pain and despair that others suffer, and to treasure each day, rather than take things for granted.
I have rediscovered blacksmithing (I'm a boily by trade), and have completed a masters in my profession, which I would not have done before.
I go for the occasional spear (snorkling).
I still go for a paddle, more frequently recently, and I have successfully gotten back to my feet only in the last week. I can't describe how at peace with the universe that made me feel.
I do modified yoga and meditation.
Most importantly, I still have a warped sense of humour. In the words of a colleague, "you a farking disgusting" :)
