Lifestyle choices

[valis2]

I have been babbling a lot about RL lately. So sorry, fandom people!

So I've been thinking about choices in occupations lately.

One of the things that my friend in WI has always said is that if you take a 9 to 5 job, you might have a good wage, etc., but if there is something you want in life you often have to be conservative with spending in order to purchase it. With sales, you just have to sell more.

I have always liked that about what I do. Yes, I have a day job where I punch a clock, but my other three occupations are all nebulous and amorphous. Really, they go as far as I push them to go. And this suits me. Honestly, there aren't many careers where you can sit and eat ice cream on a Tuesday while watching Making Da Band all day. I have weeks where I have very little to do, unless I want to do something. Conversely, I have weeks where I am involved in exhausting work overload. If I'm sick, it doesn't matter. I have to do the show or I'm out the money I paid, and the money I could possibly take in. Plus the element of chance is always present. I could take in nothing, after all.

About 90% of the time I'm satisfied. I love being the director of my own life, deciding where I'm going, what I'm doing, etc. I love finding new things to sell. I hate that I don't have health insurance, and I hate obnoxious people, but other than that, I'm pretty happy. I'm not locked into showing up to work each day and having to work with the same five nasty humans for ten years.

But then there are days when I read entries from people like trasenstine. Entries where they have a paid sick day at home, or nearly every weekend free to do what they want. It's so regular and measured and comfortable. And so much of me likes the things to stay the same, always. I hate change. But here I am in this extremely chaotic set of occupations! And I can't help but wonder about what life would be like if I were, say, a periodicals manager at a Borders.

Comments

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

First off, I greatly enjoy your RL entries. It's fun getting to know you for things other than fandom. (Fandom note: I'm up to chapter 60 in tLS, and cannot get enough!)

Next, as a workaday office wage slave 8-5er (although I do a nice 8:30-4:30 shift after I switched jobs in October), I feel the same way you do. Although perhaps in reverse. I envy you for being able to take an entire day, veg out, and not have to call anyone or pretend to be sick the next day (not to mention the sights you see while traveling). It'd be nice to have more flexible hours and possibly get out of this office more often than I do. However, the insurance, paid time off, and stability of a continual paycheck do wonders for my peace of mind.

In a way, I am looking for a compromise between the two as I look to teach in a university someday. There will be days I'm not at school and don't have to "show up", and days where I have too full a schedule and must be there no matter what. But I'll still get the regular checks and benefits that I like. Especially if I work at a Uni with a medical center, as it's even cheaper through them.

I suppose it ends up that you must find what works best with the kind of person you are. Some of us prefer one way and the others enjoy a different way. That's why I like hearing your tales of trips and things, as it gives me a taste of he other side. And that's always a good thing.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

First off, I greatly enjoy your RL entries.

Thank goodness! I'm always afraid that people are just rolling their eyes and skipping them. At least I know there's one fan. *laughs*

I envy you for being able to take an entire day, veg out, and not have to call anyone or pretend to be sick the next day

Oh yes, that really is one of the perks. I love sitting around for a couple hours and reading fanfiction and wearing horrible T-shirts. Sometimes social interaction is overrated, after all.

not to mention the sights you see while traveling

Yes, giant metal Rattlesnakes signs have brought meaning to my life! ;)

It really is a great perspective enhancer to have a LJ. Honestly, I find myself thinking, yes, this is exactly why I still have this insane collection of occupations instead of a 9 to 5 job. Other times, though, I think, wouldn't it be nice to not have to kill myself with fifty hours in four days? As always, there are tradeoffs.

I appreciate your comments.

And you're reading tLS?! That's totally awesome! Please let me know what you think, I would love to know.

I just hope you're reading it at SH or ffnet...I haven't gotten around to fixing up the fic alley chapters.

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

Finally back to a computer after the big aquarium trip, whee! :)

Had to let you know what I think of tLS (I copy it off ffnet, and then paste it into a word doc so I can print it out and enjoy at home.)

I LOVE IT! I have sincerely enjoyed how you have built up the story and the developing trust between Sarah and Severus. They're quite believable the way you write them and I am enjoying the pace at which you reveal things... never rushing into anything. Your interpretation and use of blood magic and its intricacies is fascinating- not something I thought of much before, but you have made it come alive and have more depth than JKR has provided. It also has a bit of humor, which I always like- I loved the most recent bit about charming turnips- very funny!

I look forward to getting up to date with the latest few chapters soon. So I guess that's a rave review? :)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

You are awesome! I appreciate this so much. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this down. It's so wonderful! Thank you! I'm totally squeeing right now. ;)

[gina-r-snape.livejournal.com]

You know, it's so funny how people are. My brother used to do sales and he LOVED it. He was good at it and made a lot of money and said it was worth the days of nothing happening when you got a big fat sales in.

I, on the other hand, would spend every day wringing my hands in a panic over not knowing how much money I might have. I could *never* deal with the uncertainty and omnipresent high-and-low of working in sales. I think if you are selling your own creations then there is an emotional aspect of sharing your life's work. But that would probably kill me too. I like praise and enjoy seeing others enjoy something I've worked on. But to depend on it to live on and survive? Nuh, uh. It would be a life of perpetual near-panic.

So, I'm glad your life is suiting your needs and personality! I'm gonna stick with the steady paycheck. I take great comfort out of that predictability, knowing so much else in life may prove unpredictable.

The truth is, no one way is ever going to suit everyone in the world!

Hmmm, I wonder if the burial business is more like sales or more like steady employment. I mean, you *are*selling things (plots, stones, services). But people die all the time. (Just an aside from one taphophile to another!).

[valis2.livejournal.com]

He was good at it and made a lot of money and said it was worth the days of nothing happening when you got a big fat sales in.

That is SO INCREDIBLY TRUE.

There was a point where, in two hours, I made more than I made in a year at my first job. That was insane. Of course, that's the best moment I've ever had in sales, but still, the feeling you get when you get back in the car and realized what just happened...there is very little that equals it.

Not that I'm a greedy person, honestly. It's just that it really is a fantastic thing to have a successful moment in business.

And thankfully, two of the three businesses I have rotate around things I haven't crafted myself, so I can be a bit impersonal about it. The third, where I sell my own crafts...you are so correct about the emotional aspect. People come up and say weird, borderline rude things all the time at shows, and it takes a strong will not to just say evil things in return, honestly.

The burial business is probably taking a hit, I would think. I have a feeling that more people are going towards the cremation route, though this is just a hunch and nothing that's scientifically observed on my part.

[privatemaladict.livejournal.com]

As someone who has yet to become a "real person", it's hard for me to appreciate the pros and cons of different ways to make a living. At the moment, all I know is the chaos of trying to study full-time and make a little income on the side (so I don't go insane from having to be dependant on my parents for everything.)

It seems like your work can be wonderful most of the time, but can be hell on earth every now and again - like when you're missing weekends and being forced to work no matter how sick you are. About the only advice I can offer is, savour the good times! I mean you could, theoretically, get a 9-5 job, right? But it doesn't seem like you'd want to.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

You are totally a real person already!

Though I understand what you mean. I didn't feel like a "full person" until I got out of my parents' house.

It seems like your work can be wonderful most of the time, but can be hell on earth every now and again

Yeah, that is so incredibly true. Most of the time I'm pretty giddy about it, but then there is the fact that I've missed nearly any major event that happened on a weekend because I was doing a show. :(

And you're right. I don't want a 9-5 job. I just sometimes crave that normalcy, the routine...most people don't have to create elaborate Excel calendars with color-coded days just to keep track of their schedule.

[privatemaladict.livejournal.com]

most people don't have to create elaborate Excel calendars with color-coded days just to keep track of their schedule.

Well, if it makes you feel better, I'd probably benefit from doing just that. I'm trying this new thing this year where I actually use a diary and make myself super-organised. I figure it's the only way I'll cope, and pass my barrier exam. The annoying thing is that my uni timetable changes from week to week, and my shifts for work are likely to be pretty irregular too. So I have to keep track of it all to make sure I use all the times in between for study.

And since it's one of those times now, I'd better get off LJ. :)

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

I'm not locked into showing up to work each day and having to work with the same five nasty humans for ten years.

That's what my hubby loves about his job. He works somewhere different all the time, with all different people. Sometimes he'll be on the job for a week or two, but any longer than that is rare, and sometimes it's only a few days. He likes being his own boss, and doing his own thing.

As for me ... I like that he can rearrange his schedule - since he *is* the boss - and be home early/be off work/etc to do stuff with me or the girls. And his job does pay pretty well. When he's working. Unfortunately, his work is seasonal, and since December he has been *off* work more than he's been gone for it. And when he's been gone, some of it's been pretty far out of town - Chicago, Canada - and that sucks.
I guess they both have their up and down sides (working for yourself and working for others), and sometimes I'm really glad he's self employed. But other times - like when we're writing out a check for the $900 a month health insurance - I just want to rant and rave and screech about how much I hate his work. Oh, that's right, I have, in fact, ranted, raved and screeched about that. Heh.

How does it work that you have a 'regular' job and then the sales that you do? Your regular job is okay with the time you need to take to go out of town to shows and so forth? Because I want that job. I can't get a 'normal' job because of hubby's irritational work schedule and the kids. If I get a day job, I have to have a boss who will understand I need to take a few days off to spend at home with sick kids, plus, what happens during summer break? And if I work an evening job, what happens with the kids when hubby gets called to an out of town job for a couple of weeks? I can't just take off a couple of weeks or days here and there throughout the year with a normal job. It's very frustrating. At least I have my cheesy two hour a day job with the school, I'm off when the kids are off, and the school understands sick kids.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

As for me ... I like that he can rearrange his schedule - since he *is* the boss - and be home early/be off work/etc to do stuff

Oh, yes! That is one of the best things about it. When I go to the bank, or the DMV, or the mall, it's rather dead, and I can just do my business and get along. I don't have to fight the crowds, usually. Plus, if they're going to repair my hot water heater, well, then, I don't have to take time off work...I'm there already! I can keep right on working.

But here it is:

Unfortunately, his work is seasonal

Exactly my problem too. From about mid-December through June I have no shows of my own...just whatever I can do with the other businesses and the day job. And this is when I have to pay the fees for the shows for the rest of the year, which can really add up. So part of the year I eat filet whenever I want, and the rest of the year I'm buying whatever's on sale at the supermarket. heh.

Such a grasshopper.

My "regular" job is a contingent position. For part of the year I do internet research, compiling legal statutes, as well as whatever leetle clerical jobs they have, such as creating spreadsheets. Then at the end of the year I do this very particular job where I compile data and then go through it code by code and pull out any corrupt data. It used to take four and a half months of near full time work, but now I have it down to about two.

Best part is that I create my own schedule. I turn it in a month at a time, and they generally don't care if I'm gone for a while, as long as during Nov/Dec/first two weeks of Jan I'm glued to their computer working on the data. No problem there...that's just when my stuff is starting to slack off, so it works out!

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

About 90% of the time I'm satisfied. I love being the director of my own life, deciding where I'm going, what I'm doing, etc.

I think the most important thing is that you like what you do. That you are happy with it for most of the time. Jobs can take an awful lot of our time, so we should at least do something we like and in the way we like it.

I know many people who are unhappy with their jobs and at the same time tell me that they would never take the risk of self employment, with its changing time schedules and income. Whereas I'd rather take the limited amount of money I'm making right now and refuse the 9 to 5 job. At least most of the time.

There are times, when I, too, wish for more security. But then I remember the jobs in which I had a boss and I know that I never want to go back to that kind of living if I can earn enough money with my own work. Maybe I will have to look out for a part-time job with a regular income, but I hope to manage without.

I love the freedom to chose with whom I work. I love the possibility of project, trying out new things. I love the freedom and the learning and also the fact that I sell something that is in many parts my own creation.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yes, the freedom is one of the nice things.

I'm pretty prickly and pretty silly, and I'm sure I'm a bear to have as an employee. So I'm glad that I'm not working for strangers. At my day job I work for a woman who is pretty much a friend, and at my one sales occupation I am working for my very dear friends in WI, so it isn't really a problem.

You're right, security is such an issue. I do wish I had insurance! And the ability to just work, comfortably, and not have to run around and call people out of the blue and pick up 60 lb boxes all the time. Still, it's what has kept me afloat, and it could pay off more in the future.

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

not have to run around and call people out of the blue and pick up 60 lb boxes all the time

Oh yes! *laughs* I can imagine. I sometimes wish for the colleague whom I can ask for help when I carry all the equipment for my seminars or try to pack big, unwieldy papers into a neat little bundle on my living room floor.

I wish you all the best for the future!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I wish you all the best for the future!

I'm so weird that I've read this sentence four times and I'm still trying to "decode" it to see if this means you're defriending me.

*laughs at idjit self*

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

No, I'm not defriending you!!!

I simply wanted to wish you good luck with your business plans for the future.

And I will stay around to hear how your are doing!

hugs & &hearts &hearts &hearts

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, wonderful! ;)

[sylvadin.livejournal.com]

"...And I can't help but wonder about what life would be like if I were, say, a periodicals manager at a Borders..."

I suspect that, for a while, you would enjoy the financial security. But, soon enough, you would discover that a steady paycheck does not compensate for having your creative soul being constricted and stiffled each day you report to that 9-5 job. 'Regular and measured and comfortable' rapidly becomes 'repetitive and boring and depressive' for us artistic types.

You say that you already feel satisfied with your life 90% of the time? Sounds like that 10% dissatisfaction is mostly a typical human case of wondering 'is the grass greener on the other side of the fence?' Relax. Take a deep calming breath. You're likely feeling restless and analytical about your current work situation because you're currently undergoing the stress of preparing for your marathan selling trip. From your real life LJ entries (which I *do* enjoy reading, by the way) it sounds like you've already found some equilibrium between your 'regular' job, 3rd party sales job, and your own craft production. Now, you simply have to work at doing some finetuning in that balancing act.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

But, soon enough, you would discover that a steady paycheck does not compensate for having your creative soul being constricted and stiffled each day you report to that 9-5 job.

Only too true. Plus, it wouldn't leave enough time for my flights of fantasy...hee!

You say that you already feel satisfied with your life 90% of the time? Sounds like that 10% dissatisfaction is mostly a typical human case of wondering 'is the grass greener on the other side of the fence?'

Oh yes, one of my worst traits. ;)

Now, you simply have to work at doing some finetuning in that balancing act.

Only too true. I sometimes feel like I can't fit everything into a single year, but I always manage. And I got good news today! I was accepted into a show on my own merits for the new kind of merchandise, so that is a FANTASTIC thing. I have so much tied up into it at the moment that I nearly cried with joy.