bdbrown 0 #1 December 30, 2005 Thinking about getting a trailer and moving south. Will get a simple job to pay for food and jumping (what else is there). Want to know if I am just crazy or on to something.... Owe no bills besides Child Support, so thats a plus.... So what is your view? -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #2 December 30, 2005 QuoteThinking about getting a trailer and moving south. Will get a simple job to pay for food and jumping (what else is there). Want to know if I am just crazy or on to something.... Owe no bills besides Child Support, so thats a plus.... So what is your view? It's really hard to judge without a description of what your life is like now. What are you wanting to run away from? Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdbrown 0 #3 December 30, 2005 QuoteQuoteThinking about getting a trailer and moving south. Will get a simple job to pay for food and jumping (what else is there). Want to know if I am just crazy or on to something.... Owe no bills besides Child Support, so thats a plus.... So what is your view? It's really hard to judge without a description of what your life is like now. What are you wanting to run away from? Walt Nothing, got laid off last Dec from a major Corp (telecommunications) and am not real keen on a major career change at the moment....Market is mighty thin at the moment....Just found out in the last yr or so I do not need everything I thought I needed for the last 25 yrs and that I love being at or around a dz....... -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #4 December 30, 2005 QuoteQuoteQuoteThinking about getting a trailer and moving south. Will get a simple job to pay for food and jumping (what else is there). Want to know if I am just crazy or on to something.... Owe no bills besides Child Support, so thats a plus.... So what is your view? It's really hard to judge without a description of what your life is like now. What are you wanting to run away from? Walt Nothing, got laid off last Dec from a major Corp (telecommunications) and am not real keen on a major career change at the moment....Market is mighty thin at the moment....Just found out in the last yr or so I do not need everything I thought I needed for the last 25 yrs and that I love being at or around a dz....... One of the most wonderful things you can accomplish in life is being at peace with yourself and the rest of the world. If you think there is any kind of chance that being a dz bum (I do not use that term in a negative way) will help you find that peace, then I'd say go for it, BUT..... .....make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. If you are not really sure what you want in life and are just taking shots in the dark, it may not work out so well. If you are doing it as some sort of "fuck the world" statement, then I would wait until I could do it with a better attitude. A couple of other thoughts. You might want to talk with someone who has done it or is doing it before you make the move. Do you have medical insurance? Will that insurance continue? Do you plan on doing it until you find another job? How is your health? You mentioned child support. Are you part of your kid's life and will you be less a part of it if you move? How long have you been skydiving and how many jumps do you have? Are you really sure this is what you want? Are you depressed and/or angry after the layoff? These things have a really bad influence on your judgement. I'm not trying to talk you out of anything, just bringing up things that may help you make a better decison. Best of luck to you in whatever you do. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdbrown 0 #5 December 30, 2005 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteThinking about getting a trailer and moving south. Will get a simple job to pay for food and jumping (what else is there). Want to know if I am just crazy or on to something.... Owe no bills besides Child Support, so thats a plus.... So what is your view? It's really hard to judge without a description of what your life is like now. What are you wanting to run away from? Walt Nothing, got laid off last Dec from a major Corp (telecommunications) and am not real keen on a major career change at the moment....Market is mighty thin at the moment....Just found out in the last yr or so I do not need everything I thought I needed for the last 25 yrs and that I love being at or around a dz....... One of the most wonderful things you can accomplish in life is being at peace with yourself and the rest of the world. If you think there is any kind of chance that being a dz bum (I do not use that term in a negative way) will help you find that peace, then I'd say go for it, BUT..... .....make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. If you are not really sure what you want in life and are just taking shots in the dark, it may not work out so well. If you are doing it as some sort of "fuck the world" statement, then I would wait until I could do it with a better attitude. A couple of other thoughts. You might want to talk with someone who has done it or is doing it before you make the move. Do you have medical insurance? Will that insurance continue? Do you plan on doing it until you find another job? How is your health? You mentioned child support. Are you part of your kid's life and will you be less a part of it if you move? How long have you been skydiving and how many jumps do you have? Are you really sure this is what you want? Are you depressed and/or angry after the layoff? These things have a really bad influence on your judgement. I'm not trying to talk you out of anything, just bringing up things that may help you make a better decison. Best of luck to you in whatever you do. Walt Thanks for your input Walt, I started jumping in the 80's but have just really gotten into it in the past 2 yrs...Have close to 300 jumps amps and my health is good for 41 I will always be apart of my daughters life no matter where I am....Have spent 8 of her 12 yrs alive in a distent place.... Not pissed about layoff, to long ago now... I have found that I am drawn and enjoy being around people who dive, because they are real people...Nothing phony or trying to impress.... One last thing, with the questions you ask are you a shrink? Where you from (at)? -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #6 December 30, 2005 QuoteThanks for your input Walt, I started jumping in the 80's but have just really gotten into it in the past 2 yrs...Have close to 300 jumps amps and my health is good for 41 I will always be apart of my daughters life no matter where I am....Have spent 8 of her 12 yrs alive in a distent place.... Not pissed about layoff, to long ago now... I have found that I am drawn and enjoy being around people who dive, because they are real people...Nothing phony or trying to impress.... You really need to carefully consider this statement. In general, jumpers are great people, but there are some that aren't so great and, in my experience, being around jumpers *all the time* can get old. Want to learn to hate jumpers? Work in a rigging loft at a busy DZ. I'm sure that would go at least double for working manifest. I don't hate jumpers by any means, but we (and I definitely include *me* in this statement) can really be brats at times--especially when we are in one of those "jumping is my life" phases. That being said, there are jumpers I draw a lot of inspiration from and who I will love forever. QuoteOne last thing, with the questions you ask are you a shrink? No, but in recent years I've had occasion to really take a hard look at myself. Looking in a mirror can be a truly uncomfortable thing, but it's a good thing if you do it in a kind and forgiving way. It's a really good idea to do it before making major life decisions. QuoteWhere you from (at)? Houston. Sorry if I sounded shrink-like. I'll go back to being my normal degenerate self now. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RhondaLea 4 #7 December 30, 2005 QuoteJust found out in the last yr or so I do not need everything I thought I needed for the last 25 yrs and that I love being at or around a dz....... In 1999, I left New Jersey and a job that paid well to live in DeLand, in a tent and a job on a dropzone for $7 an hour. While I would not trade that two years--because I learned a lot about myself during that time--I caution you to think it through and consider all the consequences. And be sure to have a fallback position. rlIf you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paige 0 #8 December 30, 2005 QuoteI have found that I am drawn and enjoy being around people who dive, because they are real people...Nothing phony or trying to impress.... Wow, have you traveld to many dz's? I'd have to say not trying to impress people is faaaaar off for plenty of skydivers I know. Downsizing to fly a small canopy cause its cool, swooping and breaking yourself to impress girls...I've seen plenty of skydivers trying to impress others and it's not impressive at all.Tunnel Pink Mafia Delegate www.TunnelPinkMafia.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RhondaLea 4 #9 December 30, 2005 QuoteI have found that I am drawn and enjoy being around people who dive, because they are real people...Nothing phony or trying to impress.... Okay... As I mentioned, I lived on a dropzone (three different dropzones, actually) for a little over two years. And I also worked at all three (one of them only for a few weeks). I've talked about why I quit jumping (and why I may yet begin again), but I haven't talked much about why I stopped living and working on the dz, and I don't intend to talk about it now. But I think you've got an idea about skydivers that is false to fact. They're just people, like all other people, although I would say that, generally speaking, their emotional state is probably a bit more extreme than the norm. If you really believe what you wrote, you need to have a conversation or a few with some of those people who are always on the dropzone--the packers, the coaches, the instructors. And especially don't forget to ask a manifestor or two for their perceptions of dropzone life. What you will see in this sport above all else is movement. You may think people go from dropzone to dropzone because of the weather, and that's at least partly true. But it's not the whole of the story, and it's that other, unspoken part that you need to examine. Skydiving is just a microcosm of the real world, but because it is more intense, everything else is magnified too. Everything. rlIf you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seekfun 0 #10 December 30, 2005 I would say live at the DZ but go to school at the same time. You can't jump forever, and you should have a plan..."...there is a there out there..." - Tom Robbins Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markd_nscr986 0 #11 December 30, 2005 Not something I would do again (at my age) Been there and done that to a limited extent.......I was good for about a year of it The hand to mouth existence got old after a bit Marc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diversgodown 0 #12 December 30, 2005 At 41 you may want to make sure your future is set and that you have money for retirement! you don't want to be one of those 60 year old guys bagging groceries. But if you think you really want to do it go for it! Try it on for size and see how you like it. there is nothing worse than looking back and saying I wish I would have done that when I had the chance. I think most skydivers have the mentality of LIVE LIFE! at least I do. But I also want to have enough money to partake in the things that I love and be set for the future and to be able to provide for my daughters education and car ect... when she gets older. You may want to consider that as well. Can you provide the things for your kid that will make her life better in the future. Just some thoughts. Good luck on whatever you decide. Ciao ***Glory Favors the Bold*** Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawkins121 0 #13 December 30, 2005 Chill out man... If you really want to move. Move to a major metro area so you can get another job in Telco and jump hard on the weekends. That way you can have $$ and your skydiving. Balance is good. Maybe I can help ye. Do you have a security clearance? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #14 December 30, 2005 being around jumpers *all the time* can get old. Want to learn to hate jumpers? Work in a rigging loft at a busy DZ. I'm sure that would go at least double for working manifest. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Riggers are cowards who hide behind sewing machines on rainy days. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #15 December 30, 2005 Quotebeing around jumpers *all the time* can get old. Want to learn to hate jumpers? Work in a rigging loft at a busy DZ. I'm sure that would go at least double for working manifest. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Riggers are cowards who hide behind sewing machines on rainy days. True, and to dz riggers, skydivers are those shitheads who expect riggers to drop whatever the hell they are doing and work on their stuff right fucking now so they can "make the next load". Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...... Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #16 December 30, 2005 Having spent a few months living in the back of a gear store at one dz and another few months living in a tent at another, I can say that being a "dz bum" can be a lot of fun or it can be total misery. Some things to think about - What things and what level of those things do you consider to be the basics (ie can't live without)? Shelter (tent, trailer, apartment, 2500 sq ft home in the suburbs?), food (Top Ramen, filet mignon?), and transportation (feet, bike, motorcycle, beater car, Mercedes?) likely top the list for most of us. Different people can be happy at different levels - be sure that the level you choose is one that you can be happy with. Because you plan to live on a dz does not mean you have to work there. Having worked in skydiving the past 9 years, I know now that for me being happy long term living on a dz would require that I not make my living there. YMMV. If you choose to do this, don't expect that it will be permanent. Keep your contacts in the real world; six months, a year, two years from now you may decide to rejoin it. You also may not, but it's a good idea to keep your options open. Do expect that people who have a different idea of what "stuff" they need to be happy and what responsibilities they feel are important will give you shit about your choices. Not sure if this is because they wish they could do what you've done or if they are sincerely worried about your future. Either way, ignore them. It's your life; live it the way you want to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
