Career change offer

Texashiker · Apr 14, 2014

OCGuy said:
"Inland Tugboat" is the name of that bar you go to on weekends where everyone is really nice and wears costumes, remember?

The bar where all the men wear ass-less chaps.

The tug does not go out on the open sea. When ships enter the ship channel, the tugs hooks onto them and helps guide the ship to the port.

OCGuy · Apr 14, 2014

Texashiker said:
The tug does not go out on the open sea. When ships enter the ship channel, the tugs hooks onto them and helps guide the ship to the port.

Did you just try to cyber with me?

Well guide by ship to port, captain.

z1ggy · Apr 14, 2014

OCGuy said:
Did you just try to cyber with me?

Well guide by ship to port, captain.

Go to P&N and read any TH thread about his "disdain" for gays.

He secretly wants his hersey highway filled up with some kielbasa.

CPA · Apr 14, 2014

SaurusX said:
At 46 you want to switch to a manual labor job? Sounds pretty rough if it's 7 days on 7 days off.

I'm 44 and if someone offered me a manual labor job, I would seriously consider it. Believe it or not, sitting behind the desk is not all that it's cracked up to be. Sometimes you want to work with your hands, do things, things that tangibly feel constructive.

TexasHiker, is this in Galveston or the Houston Ship Channel?

OCGuy · Apr 14, 2014

z1ggy said:
Go to P&N and read any TH thread about his "disdain" for gays.

He secretly wants his hersey highway filled up with some kielbasa.

Oh yea I know. He is so obviously very confused inside that closet, unaware that this is 2014, all he has to do is throw open the doors, and nobody will think any less of him as a person.

OCGuy · Apr 14, 2014

CPA said:
I'm 44 and if someone offered me a manual labor job, I would seriously consider it. Believe it or not, sitting behind the desk is not all that it's cracked up to be. Sometimes you want to work with your hands, do things, things that tangibly feel constructive.

TexasHiker, is this in Galveston or the Houston Ship Channel?

Grass is always greener.

Texashiker · Apr 14, 2014

OCGuy said:
Did you just try to cyber with me?

Well guide by ship to port, captain.

Not me. Dont you know I am homo-odio.

z1ggy said:
Go to P&N and read any TH thread about his "disdain" for gays.

He secretly wants his hersey highway filled up with some kielbasa.

Quiet, no soup for you.

CPA said:
TexasHiker, is this in Galveston or the Houston Ship Channel?

Mainly Sabine Pass to Port Arthur and Beaumont.

Markbnj · Apr 14, 2014

CPA said:
I'm 44 and if someone offered me a manual labor job, I would seriously consider it. Believe it or not, sitting behind the desk is not all that it's cracked up to be. Sometimes you want to work with your hands, do things, things that tangibly feel constructive.

TexasHiker, is this in Galveston or the Houston Ship Channel?

I'm 53 and I definitely would not take a deckhand job now. In my mid-40's? It's hard to judge... but maybe. But no way it would have been for the same romantic reasons I sought those jobs out in my teens and 20's. I'd have to be really motivated. There were three or four jobs that I had when young that I absolutely could not see doing as an older man. All my deckhand jobs make that list. Also moving furniture, working for a mason, some of the farm jobs I did. That crap is just really hard on you, whether you realize it at the time or not.

CPA · Apr 14, 2014

Markbnj said:
I'm 53 and I definitely would not take a deckhand job now. In my mid-40's? It's hard to judge... but maybe. But no way it would have been for the same romantic reasons I sought those jobs out in my teens and 20's. I'd have to be really motivated. There were three or four jobs that I had when young that I absolutely could not see doing as an older man. All my deckhand jobs make that list. Also moving furniture, working for a mason, some of the farm jobs I did. That crap is just really hard on you, whether you realize it at the time or not.

Okay, I will agree there are certainly manual jobs that I would have to be offered insane amounts of money to take - moving furniture is a good example of that. But, becoming a plumber, electrician, home construction, wildcatter wouldn't be the end of the world and could be quit enjoyable.

BurnItDwn · Apr 14, 2014

Yes of course take it. Double the salary, and you can handle the labor, yes yes yes.

Markbnj · Apr 14, 2014

CPA said:
Okay, I will agree there are certainly manual jobs that I would have to be offered insane amounts of money to take - moving furniture is a good example of that. But, becoming a plumber, electrician, home construction, wildcatter wouldn't be the end of the world and could be quit enjoyable.

I think the trades are an excellent career alternative right now. Since ww2 we've made a big thing about everyone going to college, but we've ended up with not enough electricians, plumbers, carpenters, machinists, etc.

KB · Apr 14, 2014

Do you have any mariner certifications? If not then I would then assume you are starting as a deckhand? Ask about opportunities for Engineer or Mate training. Also ask about the culture. In some areas I have heard of deckhands being treated very differently, like having to fetch coffee for the captains etc. Anytime you can double your salary its a great stepping point.

The nice thing about the work is that thanks to the Jones' Act, its fairly safe from outsourcing. And if you stay in Texas, then you never have to worry about the worst part of being a deckhand: during winter knocking ice off the bow in heavy seas with a baseball bat.

Texashiker · Apr 14, 2014

KB said:
like having to fetch coffee for the captains etc.

As long as he does not pat me on the ass everything will be fine.

I have the work ethic that I do whatever I am told. Boss tells me to take his mail to the post office, away I will go. Go to the donut place, no questions asked.

KB said:
Do you have any mariner certifications? If not then I would then assume you are starting as a deckhand? Ask about opportunities for Engineer or Mate training. Also ask about the culture.

No mariner certifications.

My buddy says I will be able to move up fast.

From what I understand they get a lot of high school, high school dropout type of people. I have some college and training in welding and computers.

Mxylplyx · Apr 14, 2014

Texashiker said:
As long as he does not pat me on the ass everything will be fine.

I have the work ethic that I do whatever I am told. Boss tells me to take his mail to the post office, away I will go. Go to the donut place, no questions asked.

No mariner certifications.

My buddy says I will be able to move up fast.

From what I understand they get a lot of high school, high school dropout type of people. I have some college and training in welding and computers.

Training in computers.....lols.

Texashiker · Apr 14, 2014

Mxylplyx said:
Training in computers.....lols.

Formal education in computer information systems.

One of the requirements for mate and engineer are word and excel.

GrumpyMan · Apr 14, 2014

Do it now and get promoted, because once you get into your 50's, it's the desk job you'll be looking for again.

DrPizza · Apr 14, 2014

This tugboat... doesn't happen to have Internet access on it, does it?

26 weeks of vacation each year? Sounds great!

zinfamous · Apr 14, 2014

If it means less TH gay threads on AT, then I say go for it

Texashiker · Apr 14, 2014

DrPizza said:
This tugboat... doesn't happen to have Internet access on it, does it?

I dont think so. But since the tug stays inland I can get a smart phone.

DrPizza said:
26 weeks of vacation each year? Sounds great!

Work 1/2 a year for twice the money. It is awful tempting.

zinfamous said:
If it means less TH gay threads on AT, then I say go for it

zinfamous · Apr 14, 2014

Texashiker said:
Work 1/2 a year for twice the money. It is awful tempting.

well you would get to work awfully close to a team of salty seamen for extended periods of time, so it's probably right up your alley.

Texashiker · Apr 14, 2014

zinfamous said:
so it's probably right up your alley.

I was thinking the same thing about you.

Markbnj · Apr 14, 2014

Texashiker said:
From what I understand they get a lot of high school, high school dropout type of people. I have some college and training in welding and computers.

Welding is a definite plus. Stuff gets ripped out and broken all the time. Nudge a barge up against a sandbar at a couple knots, four hours welding to put the bollards back in, easy. Being the guy who can jump in and do that stuff will make you valuable.

MagnusTheBrewer · Apr 14, 2014

I say go for it. A desk job may be easier on your body but, it's death to the soul.

OCGuy · Apr 14, 2014

MagnusTheBrewer said:
I say go for it. A desk job may be easier on your body but, it's death to the soul.

Depends on the spread in income opportunity. No question about it.

OutHouse · Apr 14, 2014

Texashiker said:
A buddy I went to high school with offered to help get me on at the company he works for.

The job is working on an inland tugboat.

My salary would double from I am currently making.
Health insurance for the family is paid.
Union job.
7 days on / 7 days off.

I am 46 years old and getting tired of this desk job.

Take the job or no?

i would take it and never look back.

Career change offer

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