cauncy said...
Watched some backpackers pass my place today, old clapped out van chocked with surfboards and life's important stuff, as they looked at my big house on the ocean ,if they only knew how enviouse I was of them, they were living , I was passing time

It's funny how we don't realise what's in front of us. You've got a big house with ocean views(?), it reads as though you kite most days, you appear to have financial stability (otherwise no big beach side house!) , have some toys (probably more kite gear than most and a quad and boat?) and you have experienced living in 7 different countries whilst probably visiting plenty more. I reckon it's the back packers who are a bit envious..

The work / life balance is interesting. Most of the my mates / aquantances and family in their 40's really seem to struggle and to be fair seem miserable. Working 50-60hrs a week to keep up with the Jones. No real hobbies. I can see why the midlife crisis is such a big thing and tears families apart.

On the flipside i see someone like "Ste" who genuinely seems happy in themselves and who have got that work/life/family/fun balance right. It's certainly something i've given a lot of thought in the last 4 months as i would hate to wake up at 40 and be unhappy.

MDSXR6T said...

cauncy said...
Watched some backpackers pass my place today, old clapped out van chocked with surfboards and life's important stuff, as they looked at my big house on the ocean ,if they only knew how enviouse I was of them, they were living , I was passing time

It's funny how we don't realise what's in front of us. You've got a big house with ocean views(?), it reads as though you kite most days, you appear to have financial stability (otherwise no big beach side house!) , have some toys (probably more kite gear than most and a quad and boat?) and you have experienced living in 7 different countries whilst probably visiting plenty more. I reckon it's the back packers who are a bit envious..

The work / life balance is interesting. Most of the my mates / aquantances and family in their 40's really seem to struggle and to be fair seem miserable. Working 50-60hrs a week to keep up with the Jones. No real hobbies. I can see why the midlife crisis is such a big thing and tears families apart.

On the flipside i see someone like "Ste" who genuinely seems happy in themselves and who have got that work/life/family/fun balance right. It's certainly something i've given a lot of thought in the last 4 months as i would hate to wake up at 40 and be unhappy.

Not always been like this, grew up in a shidt hole and hardly had a pot to piss in, joined the uk elite forces which gave me a great sense to travel, left the uk with 2 kids wife and some luggage ( clothes) didn't know whether to turn right or left leaving Perth airport, no friends or relatives, had nothing but looking back it was some of the most fulfilling moments I've had in my life, simply put, the best times I've had as a family were when we had nowt, in the 12 years I've been here aussie has changed , IMHO for the worst, don't get me wrong it's still a ripper of a spot, and I'm appreciative of the nature ,weather, etc etc etc but it's definatly changing, increasing costs put pressure on families, seldom can a family live on one wage, and with this the haze in which many live

James01 said...
breakzmaker,

What do you do for work?

I have never got close, 8-6 or 7pm in an office!

Cheers

i was in project management/oil & gas for 5 years, always was able to leave early if i started early.

now im in small business, leave when i want but worry about it more!!

breakzmaker,

Is your business in the same field. Just asking as I am thinking about doing the same thing. Hope business is good!
Cheers

Absolute flexibility with taking your days off, holidays and start/finish times are the key to a happy working Kiter, weather forecasts and tide charts dictate my work roster.

I also installed this key on my keyboard at work.

cauncy said..

MDSXR6T said...

cauncy said...
Watched some backpackers pass my place today, old clapped out van chocked with surfboards and life's important stuff, as they looked at my big house on the ocean ,if they only knew how enviouse I was of them, they were living , I was passing time

It's funny how we don't realise what's in front of us. You've got a big house with ocean views(?), it reads as though you kite most days, you appear to have financial stability (otherwise no big beach side house!) , have some toys (probably more kite gear than most and a quad and boat?) and you have experienced living in 7 different countries whilst probably visiting plenty more. I reckon it's the back packers who are a bit envious..

The work / life balance is interesting. Most of the my mates / aquantances and family in their 40's really seem to struggle and to be fair seem miserable. Working 50-60hrs a week to keep up with the Jones. No real hobbies. I can see why the midlife crisis is such a big thing and tears families apart.

On the flipside i see someone like "Ste" who genuinely seems happy in themselves and who have got that work/life/family/fun balance right. It's certainly something i've given a lot of thought in the last 4 months as i would hate to wake up at 40 and be unhappy.

Not always been like this, grew up in a shidt hole and hardly had a pot to piss in, joined the uk elite forces which gave me a great sense to travel, left the uk with 2 kids wife and some luggage ( clothes) didn't know whether to turn right or left leaving Perth airport, no friends or relatives, had nothing but looking back it was some of the most fulfilling moments I've had in my life, simply put, the best times I've had as a family were when we had nowt, in the 12 years I've been here aussie has changed , IMHO for the worst, don't get me wrong it's still a ripper of a spot, and I'm appreciative of the nature ,weather, etc etc etc but it's definatly changing, increasing costs put pressure on families, seldom can a family live on one wage, and with this the haze in which many live

I blame Americanisation

have you thought about adoption?

House values may have fallen recently and may continue to do so but its only an issue if you're selling or refinancing. It's significantly better to own your own house but if you can't afford it then you make do but you need to be mindful that paying rent when you're in your 60's,70's and 80's is going to be much harder. There are a whole lot of people renting now who CBF thinking towards the future.

^^ Yep - for those that need it I suppose a mortgage is forced savings. Although it's a pretty bad form of forced saving depending on timing.

I just got the daily WA Business News email where today's top story is that Perth house prices dropped 2.8% in October. To be honest, I don't believe RE stats whether positive or negative so I don't read too much into it. But if it's right, then someone who waited until today to buy the median house instead of buying it last month would have saved themselves about $14,000. That's in 1 month! Your "forced savings" plan has a loooooot of catching up to do when it's costing you like that.

www.businessnews.com.au/user?utm_source=Business%20News%20Mailing%20List&utm_campaign=b0659f22b8-dba&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e5391356e5-b0659f22b8-288272493&destination=node/369217

I hate working...the whole concept of struggling through life then being able to relax and enjoy life when your 70 seems ridiculous to me.

I work and work hard....I hate it always have...always will.

Time on the water after work sounds great if you haven't been working like a dog all day in the same windy hot sh1tty weather ( that makes kiting great)
All I want to do at the end of the day is sit in the shade with a cool drink.

Any way that's my rant over.
Oh and I am looking for a different job.

Gave up a 'career' (love how the powerful elite sell us monkeys this, suppose we wouldn't accept as easily the word slavery anymore), in the mining industry (cut pay in half at the time, probably worth 3 times now) for a job that gets me home early enough each afternoon for a kite (and the summer holidays are free).

only thing is when I'm on holiday, every other bastard on holidays. Can't pick and choose the wind during the day (especially in winter this sucks). I don't have control of my time.

Doesnt matter what what dog trick you perform for your biscuit treats, it's the same ****e different bucket.

Most need to do the puppet dance to survive. Controlling the time when you jump through the hoops each day is the key.

but its too late for me, two kids under 10, married with a stupidly high mortgage (equals economic slavery, but don't get me started on that). The systems elites have me exactly where they want me. My life, which ultimately equates to time , is no longer mine, but there is some freedom in that as well to be honest.

But if you are not there, listen and learn to some of the great posts above.

Find your passion and stick to it until death and dust eventuate. AT ALL COSTS.

Or just keep juggling those balls to the circus music you clowns.

eppo said...
Gave up a 'career' (love how the powerful elite sell us monkeys this, suppose we wouldn't accept as easily the word slavery anymore), in the mining industry (cut pay in half at the time, probably worth 3 times now) for a job that gets me home early enough each afternoon for a kite (and the summer holidays are free).

Teachers have it pretty sweet! Great hours mon-fri, better than average pay in WA (i know exactly what they get paid!), holidays every 10 weeks and can be on the water by about 4-4.30pm if you work near the beach.

+1 for teaching.

I think I have managed to perfect/ enhance things even further by:

1)Live less than 2 minutes drive to school (sometimes I ride a bike if Im not planning on racing to the beach straight after school)
2) Bought a sweet house overlooking the water during the last property market slump (cha ching right now, ha!)
3) Have kiteable options for every possible wind direction within a 40 min drive. In fact, the beaches near me that pick up the prevailing winds are between 5 and 15 minutes drive, oh and often these are completely uncrowded.
4) School is notoriously laid back - boss is a surfer, lets me leave school anytime its pumping and I don't have a class to teach.


Since its exam leave for the seniors right now, today I showed up at 11.45am, got a pie from the tuck shop, ate some chocolate, have a cup of tea, and now am preparing to go home, grab my SUP and get out on the water.

Loving it

Dang eppo! You need to pull rank haha!

Bummer your holidays aren't all u want them to be, consider a shift to nz, here if u see a student outside of school the unspoken rule by both parties is avoid eye contact and carry on

I think Eppo might have overplayed the "holidays are difficult" card! He has an amazing family that go with him on most of his kiting trips every school holidays and off with his mates kiting when they don't.

havent heard Eppo having to do any theatre and art gallery trips that I have to suffer. Now I'm feeling sorry for MYself hahaha!

My primary occupation gets canned if the the swell is over 2m and /or the wind is greater than 12 -13knots ...!
When i do work i am home by 1 so the east coast nor easter is in full swing by then in summer!
Happy days indeed ....!