Awww... *snugs* I'm in the same boat, and trying to do something about it. I honestly would rather take a pay cut and do something that I like for the rest of my life, then be miserable and dread every Monday because I know it's going to be an ass kicking. I feel the same way about it, but I refuse to waste my life on that 90% so that I can have my 10% of fun. My New Years resolution is to not spend another year of my life working at the place I'm at. I say make a change if you can. I'm rooting you on.

The trouble is even if I do, pick up and move, get the job of my dreams (that I actually love to do), I still fear I won't be happy for some reason or another. Honestly, I think I only know how to deal with being miserable (outside the short little tiny spurts of fun I get occasionally). Don't want to make it sound like anything negative towards my mate, there's nothing wrong there at all! Its just right now (and for the foreseable future), that 10% will not grow any, if anything its shrinking. No ones fault, just how things go.

I don't know mousie, I try to ride on just doing the same old same old cause job wise, I have a great job (stable, pays well, just frustrating most days and all). I honestly don't know what I would be happy doing anyways.

I feel ya man...I feel like this city just drags you down into a pit. I unfortunatly live in redneck land (dundalk) and if I have to listen to my neighbors scream at each other in the middle of the street at 5 am one more time I might just blow!
The worst thing about this town is how expensive it is. Even my rowhome in Dundalk costs 3 times as much as my old single home I sold to be closer to my love. Man it stinks. Blah. And of course now with the market being god awful..we owe more than the damn place is worth so it's like we are trapped forever in rowhome puzzle hell.

hehe, I used to live in lower, slower Southern Maryland so know all about redneck, LOL! Right now I am in Crofton at an apartment which is expensive, but I pay it to feel safer cause its a more upscale community. Luckily I just sold the house me and an ex had that we had to take a hit on, but not all that bad (market is rebounding a little bit). I am sorry you feel trapped in your current place, I was here paying a mortgage and apartment rent both for a year before I was able to unload the house finally. I guess we just keep on going hoping things will get better and eventually move in the right direction.

you know what they say

the acorn... err APPLE doesn't fall far from the tree

in all honesty tho I feel where your coming from it's not a fun lifestyle at all mentally or physically

yeah, working is in my blood. Probably about the only thing I'm good at.

I know how you feel hun. My mother lives with me X3 work is hell but at least its something. *hugs* Also, DC sucks :(

Yes, DC really sucks! I am thankful I do have work though in this economy, so yes, having that definitely is something. *hugs*

I'm like 2 hours outside of the city in the eastern panhandle of WV. I work as a mechanic at a large factory. Kind of comical with my personality. My moms been riding my ass about Yami lately.

Oh, you know Yami? Been ages since I seen him. I am envious of your location and just being away from this overcrowded metropolis!

Um yea. I got him his job. He lives right in the road from me.

*up (hate my cellphone keyboard)

I'm the same way. I'm close to my parents, too. But, it's hard for me to tell them that I'm unable to find a better job than I'm at. It's nice to have an actual job and not be unemployed, but I hate where I work. Knowing that everytime I get up and go. I know it'll be backbreaking no matter what. Sucks that at this day of age. Hardworking people have to fight for scraps in the job market while so many get better off.

I hear you. In this day and age I am definitely happy to have a good job and I do value that. I always have and for ten plus years busted my butt and moved up quite a bit from where I started. The trouble is now, I feel kinda locked because anything I would enjoy more would fail to compare to what I have now so I feel locked in. Don't want to say to my folks that I want to get my dream job but would take a 75% pay cut or something. I feel bad you are in the position you are as well.

Thing is, I've been trying to get some kind of a job where I've spent five years in college studying for in order to get some use out of it. And everytime I tried to apply, I'm either lost in a shuffle or they found someone better. And all saying I don't have enough experience. How can I get any if no one lets me? And every year I spent on the kind of jobs I've been having since I graduated. The less likely I'll get anything. It's frustrating.

urgh, I can understand. Even after a Masters degree, I started making real crap working in a menial position. Only through being there, learning how things work, and just being there and being noticed by the right people did I move up a little at a time. Sad thing is, I worked harder those first few years (getting paid little) then I ever worked lately. Its just so true in the motto "its who you know and who you blow". While I don't resort to the second part, the first part is surely true. You just have to get noticed and keep the right people happy. Sadly, what I do now is still related to but is a far cry from what I went to school for.

So r u saying that u hate to walk in their paws and do what they do? I'm proud that you still get along w/your family as for me I don't. *gives you a one big wolfy hug* It just seems like one way or another one or a few of us can relate to what your going threw especially me. Right now I'm just living pay check to paycheck which I don't like. cuz by the time I'm done paying bills, feeding myself, getting groceries I barely have and funds left over to do what I really want to do. I barely have and funds just to go on a nice relaxing vacation to any where i.e Bahamas, or a carnival cruise. I'm lucky enough that I wasn't born and raised on a farm cuz that would mean that I would have to get up @ 3-4 AM take care of the animals, mine to the fields, go to school, come home do more farm stuff, then str8 to HW, have din din, take bath and go to bed and do it all over again. How do I know this? Simple my grandfather that passed on in 2001 that was his life. Then once he got older he took up a career in plumping, after he retired from there, he was a manager for a small gas station b4 another company took it over, then he moved up to another gas station as an employee, then they let him go cux another country took it over in employees. At least we now know how far your acorn drops from the tree. I just wish that there was something that I or any of us could do to help you out in some way.

Sorry to hear you're doing the day by day thing and just getting by. *big fluffy squirrel hugs to you* While we didn't have many animals on the farm (some beef cows and pigs) I didn't ever have to get up and milk cows or anything. It was mainly to get up around 5-530 and do tractor work to get fields ready for planting or stuff. Some summers I would work over 100 hours a week. Those days are over though, things are not that bad.

Now I feel a bit like a dick. Here I am bitching about stuff and you have things much worse then me right now. *feels bad about that* I am just mostly complaining about feeling stuck in my present situation.

MMMm your squirrel fur feels nice and soft *giggles*

Well what you just described to me is close to what my grandfather used to do, but you had it a lil more easy then what he had when he was a young kid. How can I have it much worse then you? Don't feel bad Scooty we all feel that way at some point or another. I'm stuck in my town and can't go no where cuz I have no vehicle and no one want's to help me go to meets any more till I can get my license and or vehicle. I'm always willing to chip in for gas if need to be, but not many folks wants to take me up on that offer. Some days one person's life is more worse then the other and other days it's vice versa or equivalent to how they are feeling at the time. I hope that I didn't offend u by calling you Scooty.

another good thing is Scooty is if one is feeling down, then the other person that is having the opposite then they will know or does know how to cheer the other one up one way or another.

Awww, Move here to DC! My mate and I would love to have you here!

Well I'm close, right outside of DC. No way I would want to live closer in though. XD

*hugs* I understand how you feel. I'm down in MS working for my dad whose been with the same company for pretty much my entire life. It's farm related work. I spend 11 to 12 hours there and during planting season its 7 days a week. You work just to get by. Pay bills and back broke before the weekend. And its not what you want to do or where you want to be. *hugs* don't worry hon, you will get out from up there and with WP. I glad he makes you happy and glad you have furry to make you happy as well. Sometimes all we have is that dream that goal , we can't forget it.

Aww thanks and sorry to hear how you have it with work. *Hugs*

Oh Scooter, u sound just like me my friend. I have had those same thoughts as you and as for turning into our parents sadly it's happening to me too. I was more like my mom (which was fine cause we were always close) but she has been gone since 2007. Now im starting to turn into my father picking up all his traits and such since he is the only dominant force now. I miss my mom dearly and honestly if it wasn't for the Fandom i would have went over the edge by now. Sending you big hugs buddy and i hope u feel better.

Thanks Wolven! I agree, if it wasn't for the fandom and my friends I wouldn't like to picture where I'd be right now.

we all have those moments in life scoot , dont get me started about how my life is atm. i will not start about it , it doesnt help a thing anyway.
just be glad that you have someone to love and to hold , who is waiting for you and is there for you .
life can get more shitty you know . just imagine : no job , no money , no house , no mate

Yeah I know Sqrl, things can always be much worse. Sorry about things in your life ATM. Hope they get better.

" always looks on the bright side of life" :3

what kind of work do you do?

I work for a company that contracts tothe government. I'm a Senior system engineer and working on data support and systems for the new NPP satellite just launched. Also for future satellites being launched too.

oh that sounds intersting, and kind of fun

Well, never ate at one but it looked to be the place of choice for old people. That sounds like some really shittywork conditions, I don't think I could ever work with direct customer interaction like that. I would have dumped drinks over people my first day probably. I am happy you are happy working at your current places or atleast much prouder to be. I must say, my company is damn good it's just the actual work that's kinda bleh. Hugs!

Sorry to hear you're down, Scooter.
At the end of the day it's not about making as much money as you can - it's about achieving a reasonably good work/life balance. While you obviously need to earn enough to pay your bills and have fun etc... there comes a point where you have to say "I'm doing good, maybe not brilliantly, but I've enough to keep me content." No point being rich if the price to pay for it is constant stress and depression. I'd fully agree with the idea of taking a pay cut if it meant you could do something you actually enjoyed. In fact, when I started working for the City Council I encountered a guy who'd given up a high paying job in retail to come work as an assistant librarian. He'd taken about a 40% pay cut. Said he could live with the loss of money given that he no longer dreaded getting up on a Monday morning.
Tell you one thing - your grandfather is certainly a strong man if he's still getting up at 4am to work on the farm. Hope I'm still that active when I'm 90. Except the getting up at 4am bit. That ain't happening.

Yeah, my grandfather is still chugging away and all. I doubt I will even be around that long. If I am, I could only be half as active as him. Thanks!

Sorry you had a bad night hun.

It's fine hunny, doing better cause I'm in your arms (or will be shortly). Keeping your bed warm waiting for you to return home from work.

I had a most awesome weekend with you hun^^