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Thread: Living the dream!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
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    6,070

    Default Living the dream!

    Fellas I just wanted to say that I’ve had some of the best 5 months of my life. Back in April I left the power company after 15 1/2 years of being a prisoner. Guys I got to the point of a depression I never thought I’d ever be in. Honestly I would have never ended my life, but I sure didn’t care if I lost it. My mind went into dark places. But after much prayer and thought I decided to quit there and get my yellow ticket from our local IBEW hall and solely take storm calls all over the country. I’ve seen places I would have never seen otherwise, and have spent more quality time with my wife and kids than I could have never imagined. I finally at 36 years old can afford to live and not stress! There is so much more to life than a 9 to 5 I can promise you. The only regret I have about leaving is I wish I would have done it sooner.

    7AA49006-02BB-4D45-8F13-BBEB6BAA2B75.jpg
    867-5309

  2. #2
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    Sep 2001
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    Wateree, South Carolina
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    Default

    Good deal. I was very happy for you when you told me that you had moved on to that job. Keep kicking ass, and I hope the next storm is somewhere ducky...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    James Island
    Posts
    8,720

    Default

    Great to hear, there is certainly more to life than just work.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
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    3,694

    Default

    That’s awesome. Thank you for sharing. This life is crazy. God is good.
    "Think A Guy Like Me Worries About Percentages?" Tin Cup

    "Some get spiritual cause they see the light, and some cause they feel the heat" Ray Wylie Hubbard

    "P.S. I love turkeys. Mostly just hate those who hunt em." Glenn

  5. #5
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    Nov 2007
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    Georgetown
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    Default

    Good on you!

  6. #6
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    Sep 2004
    Location
    Petville Township SC
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    I worked 26 years in a power plant working mostly 12 hr shifts, not having a christmas off in 26 years and missing a hell of a lot of my kids growing up. After fighting the mental battles and having a stroke, I called it quits. I now work when I want and how much I want.
    I'm glad you saw the light much sooner than I did.
    Molon Labe
    HRCH Coal's Sparkleberry Cache MH

  7. #7
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    Jul 2013
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    Murrells Inlet, SC
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    5,140

    Default

    Sounds like you made a very wise choice. Congrats.

    I'd like to hear more about this "yellow card" thing and anything else about working storms only. I have a nephew that's a lineman. He's about to have his first child and I'm sure he'd like to do something similar.
    Crops are harvested, animals are killed.

  8. #8
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    Dec 2008
    Location
    Clarendon County
    Posts
    8,563

    Default

    Happy for you man!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
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    SC
    Posts
    24,980

    Default

    Good deal. I had that feeling 45 years ago. Made the move and never looked back.

    Sent from my motorola edge plus 5G UW (2022) using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Ballard's Landing
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    15,433

    Default

    You're free now.

    Lord help the ducks.
    Be proactive about improving public waterfowl habitat in South Carolina. It's not going to happen by itself, and our help is needed. We have the potential to winter thousands of waterfowl on public grounds if we fight for it.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    5,169

    Default

    What a great post; definitely speaks to me. Congrats on prioritizing what's important. I'm trying to guide my kids to avoid getting sucked into corporate slavery.
    “If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
    -Samuel Adams

  12. #12
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    Mar 2004
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    Columbia
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    Big round of applause from here. I work for myself. Technically, I serve my clients, but I don’t have a boss. I don’t have an office. It is funny to me to hear folks asking about and planning for retirement as soon as possible. I think I will work until I die. Now, I may not stress as much later in life about some day to day things, but I’m darn sure not counting the days to retirement. What a blessing for you, and for your family.
    Them that don't know him won't like him, and them that do sometimes won't know how to take him

    He ain't wrong, he's just different, and his pride won't let him do things to make you think he's right

    They don't put Championship rings on smooth hands

  13. #13
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    Dec 2010
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    Happy for ya!

  14. #14
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    Feb 2004
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    SC
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    I was married in 1989, worked at UPS from 1989 - 1999. Our kids were born while I worked at UPS in 1992, 1994 and 1995. I left UPS in 1999 so I could enjoy my kids growing up. Real estate gave me a flexible time schedule. Coached, fished, hunted, attended every school activity, every dance recital, etc.....I have zero regrets. I could also finally take time off between Thanksgiving and Christmas to hunt ducks too vs killing myself during the UPS peak season!

    The sacrifice you make raising your kids isn't about money, it's the about TIME you spend with them and time is a gift from God. All the money in the world will never buy back time.
    Listen to your elders. Not because they are always right but because they have more experiences of being wrong.

    "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give" Sir Winston Churchill

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    5,169

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    Quote Originally Posted by trkykilr View Post
    Big round of applause from here. I work for myself. Technically, I serve my clients, but I don’t have a boss. I don’t have an office. It is funny to me to hear folks asking about and planning for retirement as soon as possible. I think I will work until I die. Now, I may not stress as much later in life about some day to day things, but I’m darn sure not counting the days to retirement. What a blessing for you, and for your family.
    you mind adding what you do, either here or PM. Ammunition for more options for kids
    “If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
    -Samuel Adams

  16. #16
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    May 2002
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    Sandy Run
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    5,715

    Default

    Cool. I'm happy for you. Everyone deserves to be happy in this life.

    I guess I'm in the minority. I work in the corporate world and enjoy the challenge. And have no plans for retirement. I think the thing that keeps me happy is that I have a good job, good benefits, plenty of time off, a steady paycheck and I bear very little risk. I come to work, kick ass and go on about my personal life. I have time to hit the gym, shoot clays and spend time with my daughter and girlfriend if 13 years.

  17. #17
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    Mar 2004
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    Columbia
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    Quote Originally Posted by everlast View Post
    you mind adding what you do, either here or PM. Ammunition for more options for kids
    No issue at all. I sell insurance to folks who lend money (community banks and small loan companies), and I have recently (past 3 years) started selling auto warranties through franchise and independent dealerships (No, I don’t call you). I have several clients on this site. I will say that life on the road isn’t for everyone, and owning your own business, in what amounts to a service job, requires availability. When I was first married I spent a lot of time in Fairfield Inns all over SC, NC, and GA. Most folks think they want to do what I do, but my work never stops. If someone needs me, they need me, and if I’m not available, they will find someone that is. So, while I’m typically the only dad at the elementary school Halloween parade, I’m also likely in the minority that I’m on the phone as often as I am, or on the computer late at night. Bottom line, you wouldn’t enjoy it unless you were wired for it. I happen to be. 100% commission jobs would cause some folks a lot of heartache, and I understand that.

    I am beyond blessed, for sure.
    Them that don't know him won't like him, and them that do sometimes won't know how to take him

    He ain't wrong, he's just different, and his pride won't let him do things to make you think he's right

    They don't put Championship rings on smooth hands

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
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    Banks of the Wateree
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    Default

    Congratulations

    I'm not sure about people that have said something like find what you love to do (work) and you'll never work again a day in your life. I don't believe that, it's still work. No one is paying me to shoot birds and play golf. I absolutely don't love what I do, but I'm good at it.. and I'm wired in a way as I believe I can only work for myself. There's a drive, not a moderate drive.. but when it's time to walk away I plan on doing it very good.
    Last edited by Highstrung; 09-19-2023 at 04:17 PM.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
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    Columbia, SC
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    49,161

    Default

    you still cant kill a mallard
    Ugh. Stupid people piss me off.

  20. #20
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    Sep 2009
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 2thDoc View Post
    you still cant kill a mallard
    I've killed the shit out of mallards

    * I know that wasn't for me

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