Comments for Long trips are dangerous things

Long trips are dangerous things

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:45:52 -0600

They give you time to think, as you spend 13 hours at the wheel trying to keep them all on the pavement with the same forward vector. What with the passing of the Auld Soldier, I'm at one of those clichéd places in my life where I'm supposed to sit down and take stock. 24 hours of driving in two days gives you that chance. To pass the time, I took along a lot of music - Cirque du Soleil soundtracks, Loreena McKinnit, and a 4 disk Harry Chapin collection. I like Harry, he can tell a good story, without...

Comment from BloodSpite on 2009-12-15

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:04:47 -0600

I wasn't real sure what else I could say to this beyond my previous response. I spend a lot of time on my road trips talking with myself and thinking. You've seen how much I travel. It's a constant thing for me even when I don't want it to be. I can't relate to the age portion, I won't try to. I can relate to the time portion. My average work week has been in the 80 hour mark for several years now. I literally cannot function on a shorter time span. But the end result is obvious. My blogging is minimal now, after I cut it out altogether originally. Many things I want to do went way far to the way side. I've canceled things that I wanted to attend. My social life is nonexistent unless it revolves around my job, and unfortunately given the economy, and current national job situation, that part is probably not going to change in the near future. But I think at some point, when we have gotten more than satisfied with what we do on a regular basis, we desire, can almost taste, a change in venue. Be it the job, the blog, the hobbies, the farm, the house, the office or even our books. It feels like something is missing even when everything is as it should be or when it previously felt...satisfactory. Suddenly its not. Personally? I think its goals. We become so used to having a goal to achieve beyond our work deadline, that it becomes a habit, or a need. We have to have a challenge, something to get our blood pumping and the stress level up because we need want to prove we still have what it takes. But then I've never been very good in the social scheme of things, so I could be 100% entirely wrong here at which point I'll join Gollum in the Dungeon.

Comment from MikeLM on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:58:34 -0600

John-
I continue to be moved by your reminiscences of your father. By the way, my father was a graduate of Missouri, too. Sorry to hear that they followed the academic fashion to ultra-liberalisn. My college did, too - big time.

I hope that you can move on to "good tired" by taking a very active approach to your job as President of the Leavenworth Rotary Club. Lot of good work to be done there, as you are well aware.

Best of luck

Mike

Comment from jim b on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:06:04 -0600

Sabatical

Comment from SangerM on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:43:31 -0600

>John has always wanted a scout car. Always.

Paint a BSA logo on an old VW bug that has a sunroof, and mount a 50 on a pedestal through it. It's be kind of scrinched inside, but that'd do for a 'scout' car, wouldn't it?

Comment from Justthisguy on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:58:43 -0600

Dang, Sir! Was it not you who warned me about the dangers of too much mopin' and broodin' not that long ago? "Despair is a sin." - Jerry Pournelle. (and other, more famous folks)

Comment from AFSister on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:21:02 -0600

I haven't been good-tired since the last time I deployed with the Red Cross.

Comment from SangerM on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:59:52 -0600

The simple truth is that all it takes is 'wanna.' Wanna stop doing that crap, wanna stop goin around all POd all the time, etc. I left the Army after 14 years because I was tired of getting up PO'd, going to work PO'd, coming home PO'd, etc. It had stopped being fun and when the fun quotient goes down, its time to move on. I left the Army with a pretty darn fine record, honor grad at PLDC, PSG of 3 pretty high-end EW platoons, got crew member wings in hueys, etc., and etc. I was on the invite list for ANCOC, and was likely to make E7 by 16 years, not to bad for a late starter (took 4 to make E5), would almost certainly have made E8, and had already finished the MI Officer Basic and Advanced Courses (corres.), they woudn't let me do C&SC or CAS3, etc. For all of that, I'd got where I hated it every day, so I just decided I was done, kaput. Got out with no job, no plans, no savings, etc., and LO & behold, contrary to what all the know-it-alls kept saying I did pretty well for myself. Never starved, had work when I wanted it, and my life has been far better off since. No regrets, except maybe the house payment every month.

Sine then, I've taken it one job at a time, had almost as much fun, sometimes, but best of all, when I've tired of the crap, I move on. I recently got a promotion, good thing, 'cause I was on the way out of here to go back to DC. Now I don't have to and I can work on my photography and writing and still get ahead in the career.

So the point here, John, though you prolly don't need input from me is that whatever you decide to do will be fine, if it's what you want to do, and you are happy--at least up front--with the change. Best thing about it all is that no decision has to be permanent. I know a guy hated it here, retired to run a small engine repair shop... that was fun for a while, now he's back to consulting. He got that other need out of his system.

As for the good-tired/bad tired thing, I dunno. Even if all my work is for someone else, if I got paid for it, and that was my goal, I'm good. For me, it's not the tiredness, it's the fun factor, and that may be the same thing to some, but it's different to me.

And if you do decide to change stuff, change to something that you've always wanted to do, but didn't think you could make money at. That's where I'm at now. Who knows, I will or I won't but I won't have to wonder what if....

I hope you find your center and your peace. Really....

Me.

Comment from Grumpy on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:28:23 -0600

John,

You and only you can make the *real decisions*. As I look at it, this is only from my own experiences. If they are helpful, to you, it just makes them more valuable. If not, just throw them away, no harm, no foul. I like your title, "Long trips are dangerous things". There is a strange process that starts as journey, I'm driving a big rig carrying all of *my baggage* or at least I think it's *my baggage*. I'm leading a caravan, my body tells me to take the next exit and head for the shopping center. Well, I pull in and everybody follows, with questions, the problem is this was not a planned stop. Well, during this stop, I start going through the bags, they're not all mine. You start a process of giving the bag back to their rightful owner. During this process, you are confronted with this, "I thought you were going to solve all of these issues." You say, "No, that would not be best for either of us." You continue this process until its only your baggage. Now, you're the one who must answer all of the questions. But you will face those things which had *great* importance even a year or two ago, now, everything has changed. There is a place in your mind for those things which are still important to many, but not to you. Then, what do you do with them? For me, I created a mental storage locker, which to me was sacred. When you placed something here, it didn't lose value or importance, it was *just time*. This whole thing was loosely following a poem by Robert Frost, "A Lesser Traveled Road", as a one time hiker, I changed road to path. In my mind's eye, I was looking for my "campsite" and later my "cabin". This is a story to describe a difficult process.

John, I'll respect your choices about your own journey. I'm not saying stop or go. I'm holding you with an open hand.

Comment from Cricket on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:43:25 -0600

John, I think it comes down to serving others and knowing you have made a difference. If I had known earlier that your father had written grants for Columbia College, I would have said thank you from the bottom of my heart. If it is the same one that has a satellite campus at Fort Lost-in-the-Woods, it is the one the Engineer graduated from. His getting his degree spurred me on to get mine.

Words fail me in trying to express my appreciation to you and Beth for having this blog and answering my questions, and helping solidify what was in the Young Man's heart about his Calling in Life.

Take a break. Let others post...but do write your father's story. It is one that needs to be told and has some fantastic elements. It would make a superb movie.

Comment from Beth on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:53:02 -0600

Jimmy Buffet has the bucks to do whatever he wants!

Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:45:51 -0600

BOQ...Jimmy Buffet said it best.

Comment from Boquisucio on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:42:44 -0600

Fishmugger & Massa John,

We all have to grow old, but not to grow up.

Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:41:54 -0600

John...a T19 with racing stripes.

With restorations, you can get expensive or not. It's all according to where you start and how much sweat equity you want to invest. It also helps to have some knowledgeable friends around to bounce ideas off of. Or hold things, or carry things (after they put down their beer) or paint or sand blast or file or hammer. Volunteers come cheap but work slow.

My math works with the golf country club equation: dues, green fees, caddy, golf cart, extra dozen balls per round and the 19th hole. Since I no longer play golf...look what I saved...so it's off to the Bahamas with the savings.

You need a budget and some good scavengers. (the Army still has those around, right?)

And...you can make money renting it to some prissy Hollywood producer.

Comment from Beth on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:06:07 -0600

Serafina is an evil goat. Don't know if she is trainable, BCR! You would laugh if you ever saw me chasing her to give her shots or whatever. I usually end up grabbing her fleece and she spins around me 4 or five times while I'm hanging on for dear life until she gives up or we both fall down.

Comment from SGT B on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:03:56 -0600

I was bad-tired for a long time... Took a trip back into the fire to knock my sights into alignment, and realize that it was time to, well, not "grow up" - maybe more like "raise my sights to higher expectations"...
I've got a technical, and I'll work on that, and then I'll prolly get another, something with tracks would be nice, but something with armor, decidedly...
Something tells me that I'll get more satisfaction creating a job for myself, rather than work for someone else.
I've got one heck of a wingman, and she reminds me to take seriously that which should be taken seriously, and then giggle at the rest...
I'm aiming for the end goal of having the pile of pick-up stix cast upon the ground being the result of my own hand, and not Fate's: My own private brier patch, and me starring as Brother Rabbit.

Comment from Beth on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:51:54 -0600

I only sent that one time! The Castle Echo is acting weird.

Comment from bad cat robot on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:50:23 -0600

Alternate career options:
Cattle rustler. You could train Petey to lure unsuspecting cows out of their pastures, whilst you are busy establishing an alibi (perhaps delivering cookies to your local constabulary?) Nobody would ever suspect a horse!

Attack goat squadron leader: Some of your goats already have the necessary killer instinct, so you just have to establish some voice commands.

I guess I'm lucky; I have a job I don't love, but I don't hate either. It's neutral. I get my mental satisfaction writing fiction. Perhaps someday I will have a paying job that satisfys me as well -- but in this economy I'm just happy to get a paycheck.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:43:44 -0600

Just in case you didn't notice - Beth really does know I've always wanted a Scout Car...

Comment from William Powell on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:33:05 -0600

I found my version of the Auld Soldier's Rotary a few years ago. I'm still working an 8-5 that gives me that Bad-Tired feeling, but on weekends I can indulge my sheepdog soul and help save lives with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The look on a boater's face when we come alongside after he spent all night drifting 40 miles at sea is all the paycheck I need. Physically, I feel 100% better since I joined the Auxiliary. Heres hoping you find what you need.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:25:49 -0600

While a T19 Gun Motor Carriage would indeed be way cool, methinks the Budget of Argghhh! would groan mightily under the stress...

Comment from Beth on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:15:41 -0600

John has always wanted a scout car. Always.

Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:13:40 -0600

It's just a state of mind John; the heart is 17, the equipment is 66 however. Just can't go to my left like I used to.

How much fun did you have putting the Technical together? I'm not saying you should go get yourself a Sherman, but a scout car would be nice. You know, tires in the front, track in the back and we can put a 105 in it. You could chase coyotes around the farm.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:01:54 -0600

Mugger - grow up? Isn't it a bit late for either of us to be doing that?

Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:34:24 -0600

As a salesman, burn out is something to guard against. Once it's a drudge or stops becoming fun, it's time to find something new.

I also looked for energy outside my job. Being a Lion and running the Flea Market or being Chairman of a major committee was more work then earning a living. It was a personal joke that I hoped my boss never found out how hard I worked for other then my job. It was important to my mental health. And, yes, fishing in exotic places also recharged my batteries.

You can buy a hot sports car and drive by the High School, but then Beth would kick your ass. Mid life crisis' can be fun or depressing. I had fun with mine, bought a 928, and started a bucket list. Like your Dad, changing jobs may be a good idea. Heading in to the same office, talking to the same people about the same problems is not my idea of a good life.

I've taken many chances, moved into a new industry, blazed new trails. But...what do you want to be when you grow up? I certainly never was good at punching a clock. Now I'm off to see some of the National Parks I've never seen, visit some more battle fields and plot what happened on a map. Maybe find a woman that does the Big Five.

I'm 66 and don't need to work, but I promised to stick around to oversee the roll out. After that, I want to sample more wine, pick up my score in trap shooting, see the Grand Canyon from the south rim, tour Yellowstone and go see what happened at Market-Garden. And find exotic places to fish.

Comment from prestonious on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:20:52 -0600

The issues you raise could take 50 books to answer. So many could find themselves in those words. So many times the answers are not simple or obvious, others just take the right level of need to push them into action. So many of your readers consider you (and yours) family. Family helps when it is not popular or in vogue because family is family. Right bro?

Comment from BloodSpite on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:17:07 -0600

Yes.
They are.

Comment from Barb on 2009-12-14

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:16:57 -0600

Not sure whether you mean changes here in blogspace, or at the Castle. I suspect both are percolating. The battle of what to do to earn a living versus enjoying the job with all your passion is a toughy, I know.