SpeedRacer 1 #1 August 26, 2003 I've had this job for over a month now, and I'm starting to re-notice things about some people... (By the way, I am a scientist at a biotech company). I will come into work, and talk about the things I did over the weekend. Skydiving, hiking, beer brewing, theatre, music concerts, etc. But when I ask my boss if he went anywhere over the weekend, he usually says no, he came in & worked. And there are several other co-workers as well, who don't seem to have much going on outside of work. I have found this situation in every place I've worked& it gives me mixed feelings. On the one hand, I envy these people because they are completely fulfilled by working. And they will probably get promoted more than I will. But I could never be like that, I have too many other interests. Shit, last Saturday I was plummetting towards the earth at terminal velocity with a couple other nuts. Then having some kick ass micro-brewed beers & barbecue at the DZ after the beer light went on. And my boss (& others) came into the office/lab & worked. f&*k, it makes me wonder sometimes. I love science, and I'm good at it, but when I see the single-minded focus of some of the other people where I work, I don't know whether to envy them or pity them. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #2 August 26, 2003 They are just different, for example, I don't live to work, I work to live.__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WFFC 1 #3 August 26, 2003 QuoteThey are just different, for example, I don't live to work, I work to live. My thoughts exactly... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racenic 0 #4 August 26, 2003 It's called having a life! Out here in southern California it takes 2 incomes to buy a decent house close to a major city (so you don't have to commute 2 plus hours each way) Then the payments are incredible which forces people to work overtime. majority of people live to work or work for the house they own. Which they really don't own until it's paid for. Because the majority of people are approximately 6 weeks away from foreclosure. if they were to lose their jobs. I say go jump out a perfectly good airplane the rest is just details Nick D The key to Immortality is- first living a life worth remembering” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #5 August 26, 2003 Ditto, man. It gets worse as you get older. I'm 31 now and almost all my long time friends are married, some have kids, all have moved to the suburbs. They talk about 2 things that consume their non-working hours. Commuting and Home Depot. It seems that marriage kicks off this behavior most often, for both men & women. Reason #296 why not to get married. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdev 0 #6 August 26, 2003 I'd tend to 'pity them' - unless they really are doing what the want to do by working all weekend ! - I'd bet that the majority do it cos they have to to be able to afford to live up to their lifestyle (house/car/etc).... As I'm getting older, I'm getting less and less materialistic...certainly since I did my first skydive !! From a certain film "the stuff you own ends up owning you..."--- One life...Use it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
juanesky 0 #7 August 26, 2003 Absolutely agreeing there. Although I do own my home, a multifamily, that allows me to skydive for is almost pay for itself. The majority of people at work sacrifice the present for the sake of the future, and become blind to the situation. Is all about status for most."According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfields 0 #8 August 26, 2003 SpeedRacer, It really depends. I'm like you, in that I like to do a variety of things in my free time. But not everyone is like that. I used to work at the National Institutes of Science and Technology. There is a major amount of brain power there. Many of the people worked longer than average hours and came in on the weekends. They weren't doing it to impress the boss or get another step up the corporate ladder. They did it because they loved doing science. Going to "work" was a way they could have someone pay for all the tools they needed, have great support, have the administrative burdens lifted from them, all while they got to do the thing the loved while getting a paycheck. When people work overtime/extra for those reasons, I envy them. They love what they do and get satisfaction from it. When people put in the extra hours doing something they don't enjoy, just to be a better drone, then I pity them. The enjoyment people do or don't get from it makes all the difference. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skypuppy 1 #9 August 26, 2003 On the other hand, I know some jumpers that are into competition and training, and I NEVER see them do a fun jump... Some are even into accuracy, and I don;t know the last time they would have made a freefall over 5-8 seconds... This is not necessarily because they don't want to do more jumps, but because they only have so much money and time to work with/ It all depends on what you want to do, I guess... I know I have to admire someone with the determination and discipline to focus on what they wish to achieve to the sublimation of everything else.If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead. Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blahr 0 #10 August 26, 2003 QuoteThey are just different, for example, I don't live to work, I work to live. Ivan said it :-) Couldnt have said it better. Work is a means to and end, not an end in itself. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
juanesky 0 #11 August 26, 2003 QuoteThey are just different, for example, I don't live to work, I work to live. Ivan is dead!!!! no work = not living......."According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #12 August 26, 2003 Being a teacher affords me all summer to play and do as I like. I take full advantage of that opportunity and then some usually. That said there are so many teachers who take on stacks of papers and work EVERY night to grade and review. I refuse to do that because I have my life outside of work. When I leave at 3:45 everything work related stays there until the next morning. I go home and enjoy my kids and my house. I don't have the neatest house in the world and I can promise most of the times the beds aren't made, but we live there. I say life is short...live it. Someone else can clean my house or grade my papers after I'm dead and gone. Oh and you can pay the bills too. -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #13 August 26, 2003 QuoteIvan is dead!!!! no work = not living....... Excuse me..but, you're wrong. It's true, I'm in my 2nd month of unemployment, but that doesn't mean I'M NOT LIVING AND ENJOYING LIFE, if you focus your existence on WORKING, even the simple fact of punching out and going home will make you miserable, I'm the other way around, I like what I do for a living, I like money but you have something more important and it's YOUR HAPINESS AND WELL BEING, I like to work hard to reach my goals to get to the place I want to be, but without sacrificing what I just mentioned above. Most people think: I gotta work hard, even weekends and holidays so I can save TONS of money for my retirement, and I say, so you gonna waste your youthful days working like a machine and when you reach 65 (if you reach it) then you gonna START to live and enjoy life?, not this cat, by 65 I'll be telling my memoires to young generations while I RELAX enjoying my old age. That's my opinion.__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jayruss 0 #14 August 26, 2003 Quote But when I ask my boss if he went anywhere over the weekend, he usually says no, he came in & worked. On the one hand, I envy these people because they are completely fulfilled by workingQuote I doubt they are fulfilled by working, it just gives them something to do. I think its sad, but to each their own. I personally forget my job from the time I set foot outside the building and don't think about it until tuesday afternoon __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites txblondie 0 #15 August 26, 2003 A problem you see frequently in the area I live; a lot of people work long hours, long weeks, so that they can have big houses (where they don't get to spend any time), drive expensive cars (that break down just as often as a mid-price car), and look good for society. Which is a waste of money in my opinion. If you have the money to have those things, great, but what's the point if you can't enjoy it because you're too busy working to pay for it? I'd rather live in a moderate size home and have a little less income to play with and be able to ENJOY it, than to have the envy of "friends" and never be able to play with my toys!!! ***************************************** Blondes do have more fun! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freakydiver 0 #16 August 26, 2003 I thrid that completely. People need to care about living before they die - not working for posessions. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." -- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wmw999 2,583 #17 August 26, 2003 QuotePeople need to care about living before they die - not working for posessions. Many scientists (the thread was originally about them) are not working for the money. Would you say that a skydiver who worked for a dropzone and spent all of his or her time there needed a life? Or would you envy that life? Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites lawrocket 3 #18 August 26, 2003 I'm a junior attorney. Most people have ideas about what the junior attorney's lives are like. Mostly, they are correct. Long hours, high stress, etc. It can be a miserable experience. I have, thus far, lucked out. I haven't had too many worries abou the long hours. Many times (at my old job) I would spend the morning at the DZ and then drive to work. Sometimes I brought work with me to the DZ. It's all good. I love my job, and I love my leisure time. Sometimes, both can go together. I cannto allow myself to be consumed by work. I have other responsibilities to others and to myself. I cannot be consumed by leisure, as I have responsibilities to others. I've think y9ou've got it figured out well. You take care of your responsibilities and still have fun. It's a pretty good model for a full life. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites trigger 0 #19 August 26, 2003 I seem to be doing a pretty good job at not working i.e.Job dodging/work avoidance and still managing to have a life which includes jumping however, i would like to add that this is non substainable and come the end of the summer i will hopefully return to aplace of work where i will continue to job dodge and avoid all forms of work but get paid as well so that i can continue the proceess next summer...........CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflir29 0 #20 August 26, 2003 I have made A LOT of sacrifices this year for work. I have only made about half the number of jumps I did last year. I totally missed the WFFC. I went about 2 months without jumping at all earlier in the year. I moved to a city I don't really like. Is it worth it? I feel like it is......I'm doing a pretty damn important job. It's not always fun....especially when people treat me like I'm nothing more than a bother to them. That one really amazes me. However, I know why I'm here.....and that's enough for me. Having the opportunity to "Change the World" is important enough. I just hope I can wrangle my transfer back to Atlanta. THAT will make me 100% happier. Besides....they are paying me quite well too. It's hard to argue with that. I just wish I had more free time to spend it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. 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txblondie 0 #15 August 26, 2003 A problem you see frequently in the area I live; a lot of people work long hours, long weeks, so that they can have big houses (where they don't get to spend any time), drive expensive cars (that break down just as often as a mid-price car), and look good for society. Which is a waste of money in my opinion. If you have the money to have those things, great, but what's the point if you can't enjoy it because you're too busy working to pay for it? I'd rather live in a moderate size home and have a little less income to play with and be able to ENJOY it, than to have the envy of "friends" and never be able to play with my toys!!! ***************************************** Blondes do have more fun! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakydiver 0 #16 August 26, 2003 I thrid that completely. People need to care about living before they die - not working for posessions. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." -- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,583 #17 August 26, 2003 QuotePeople need to care about living before they die - not working for posessions. Many scientists (the thread was originally about them) are not working for the money. Would you say that a skydiver who worked for a dropzone and spent all of his or her time there needed a life? Or would you envy that life? Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #18 August 26, 2003 I'm a junior attorney. Most people have ideas about what the junior attorney's lives are like. Mostly, they are correct. Long hours, high stress, etc. It can be a miserable experience. I have, thus far, lucked out. I haven't had too many worries abou the long hours. Many times (at my old job) I would spend the morning at the DZ and then drive to work. Sometimes I brought work with me to the DZ. It's all good. I love my job, and I love my leisure time. Sometimes, both can go together. I cannto allow myself to be consumed by work. I have other responsibilities to others and to myself. I cannot be consumed by leisure, as I have responsibilities to others. I've think y9ou've got it figured out well. You take care of your responsibilities and still have fun. It's a pretty good model for a full life. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trigger 0 #19 August 26, 2003 I seem to be doing a pretty good job at not working i.e.Job dodging/work avoidance and still managing to have a life which includes jumping however, i would like to add that this is non substainable and come the end of the summer i will hopefully return to aplace of work where i will continue to job dodge and avoid all forms of work but get paid as well so that i can continue the proceess next summer...........CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #20 August 26, 2003 I have made A LOT of sacrifices this year for work. I have only made about half the number of jumps I did last year. I totally missed the WFFC. I went about 2 months without jumping at all earlier in the year. I moved to a city I don't really like. Is it worth it? I feel like it is......I'm doing a pretty damn important job. It's not always fun....especially when people treat me like I'm nothing more than a bother to them. That one really amazes me. However, I know why I'm here.....and that's enough for me. Having the opportunity to "Change the World" is important enough. I just hope I can wrangle my transfer back to Atlanta. THAT will make me 100% happier. Besides....they are paying me quite well too. It's hard to argue with that. I just wish I had more free time to spend it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
