I'm 34, and tired of working.

[cuafpr]

Sigh, partly makes me want to stay in the military. I had a 5 year break, but still could retire at 45. I'd never be wealthy but definitely financially secure.

after being a civy for 3 years i hate it even more... damn cuts cost my my career and I'd do anything to go back and find a way to change that.

as for the OP yep i'm right there with you same age range and everything.... I'm hoping if i get back into the DoD or gov't service it will help some but really i don't know. hope you have better luck!

 

[Blackjack200]

OP, I'm close to you in age and income, and have had struggled with some of the same problems you're talking about.

It's really hard for me to meet and attract women, and I endure long periods of painful loneliness as a result.

This might just be an individual thing, but I find the best cure for my loneliness is work. Not office work, but doing work for me. I have two rental properties right now, and I'm getting ready to rent my home out (and move to an apartment in Philly), so there's always something to do. This evening I filled 5 contractor bags worth of junk from the basement and put them out by the curb. I've spent dozens of hours organizing and cleaning the place so it will show nicely, when we had that really warm weekend a couple of weeks ago I painted the porch.

Once I get settled into the new apartment, I'm going to save up a small pool of money and try to flip a house. Then I'll really be busy.

 

[PliotronX]

You guys who are feeling down have life too easy. It's little wonder the wealthy (not saying anyone in particular) are the most miserable saps on the planet.

 

[John Connor]

If you do something you enjoy you will never work a day in your life again.

I want to fly for a living. I would just be in my glory. I think the only down side is possible stress and lack of sleep, but I want to do it!

 

[AViking]

Find something to do that makes you happy. Move somewhere that makes you happy. Be around people that make you happy.

Life is to short.

 

[Leyawiin]

Find something to do that makes you happy. Move somewhere that makes you happy. Be around people that make you happy.

Life is to short.

I rarely say this in forums, but QFT.

 

[yhelothar]

You guys who are feeling down have life too easy. It's little wonder the wealthy (not saying anyone in particular) are the most miserable saps on the planet.

Not true. Happiness rises with income but tops out at $75k.
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2019628,00.html

 

[ch33zw1z]

<<< Married with two kids

Single and No kids?

Great, move where ever you want and do whatever you want...because kids change this for you.

 

[Murloc]

I'd love to transition out of the rat race and doing something enjoyable. Maybe the proverbial "mid-life crisis" is hitting me early. The only time I really feel free and alive is when I take cross country road trips and explore. I'd love to find a job that allows me to venture out and see more of America.

you must be jelly of fuzzybabybunny.

Anyway if you can you could take a sabbatical year but I'm not sure you're old enough to get one.

Americans are overworked and oppose any law that could change that. It's weird, but whatever.

 

[biostud]

@OP

Pretty much the same here. 34, one year out of long time relationship, stable and good job. So I asked myself what I like and decided to do it no matter what was "the right thing to do". I really like to travel and my trip to the US this summer was really an eye opener to traveling alone and see things completely different from the every day job. So now I'm looking forward to going to Israel in a month and traveling to Japan this summer. Also I've joined a danish hardware site where I write reviews and I am also political active. If I didn't have some of these things to look forward to, then it would be pretty fed up with way things are going.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions. I agree with y'all that finding some hobbies would be a good idea. I think it's just this time of year that can be a bit hard, especially since I'm single and spent the holidays alone. Someone also mentioned setting specific long term goals which I think is a great idea too, so I'll have things to look forward to.

Thanks for the positive PM's. Off to work.

 

[AViking]

You can always move to a cheaper country and start a business. Go open a bar in Bali, teach English in Ecuador, program from the beaches of South Africa, etc.

Think about this. If you make $75,000 and spend $75,000 to live in DC would you be ok making $30,000 and spending $20,000 to live in the tropics?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Welcome to the club. If you figure out the answer let the rest of us know. Good luck!

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. Let us know when you find the answer, OP!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I honestly believe that's what I need but the small company I work for is bad on the number of days off, both vacation and holidays as well. I can't even get a comp day out of him, regardless of the number of hours/days extra I've worked (I'm salary and he feels that there is no comp time, even during the same week). Seems like many in corporate America are getting burned out (based on this thread).

Time to find a new job.

 

[z1ggy]

Find a g/f and get laid. Everybody hates what they do for a job, you're no exception.

 

[JManInPhoenix]

One or two jobs in my life I have actually liked - the rest I hated or just tolerated. Not liking your job is a pretty common 1st world problem. I doubt anyone looks forward to driving to some building then sitting in front of a computer in a cubicle. The other part of my life is what I live for - great wife, great dog, spending free time doing things that interest me...

 

[BikeJunkie]

This "crisis" hit me when I was 27 and I still struggle with it today (now 36). I crave manual labor type of work (frame houses, etc), but I couldn't support my family the way I want to on those salaries. I've thought about going into Surveying, but it would still be a massive pay cut.

It's not a cure-all, but I've thrown myself into my cycling and it's helped quit a bit. Winter is still brutal and I suffer from SAD, but we're actually moving at the end of the school year to warmer climates (looking at Dallas, Austin, and Phoenix).

But you aren't saddled with much. There's nothing wrong with transitioning to the "simple life" (except it would make me jealous). Learn to be a mechanic, etc.

I think the reason people like us get fed up with the rat race is because, as Peter said in Office Space, we weren't meant to live in cubes. We're meant to move around and be physically active. When we spend 8 hours a day chained to a desk, our bodies suffer physically and mentally. It's why we have such difficulty sleeping, getting up, staying positive.

Do something that requires you to move around more than 50% of the day. I guarantee you'll sleep better and be happier

I tell my kids: if you grow up and spend more than half your day at a desk, you've learned nothing from me

 

[BikeJunkie]

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions. I agree with y'all that finding some hobbies would be a good idea. I think it's just this time of year that can be a bit hard, especially since I'm single and spent the holidays alone. Someone also mentioned setting specific long term goals which I think is a great idea too, so I'll have things to look forward to.

Thanks for the positive PM's. Off to work.

Ahh, the cycle repeats. You're settling and telling yourself it's just the season and you're just lonely.

You're going to wake up and be 45. You're going to look back on this and want to punch you're younger self for not taking a leap of faith.

 

[Engineer]

Time to find a new job.

Even with my above complaints, there are enough perks (one of them being FAR, FAR, FAR less travel) vs similar companies in the area. Also, nice being around 7.5 miles away vs 30+ for many of the other companies doing the same thing.

I've set a new goal to retire early anyway and might just ride this one out for a few years (will have more vacation by then too), but on that note, I have talked to a few people and could have a better pay/benefits job very quickly but not sure if the travel and extra daily driving (more work?) is worth it or not.

The more I think about it, the more I would like to leave this job on a 'no need to work' basis.

 

[Scarpozzi]

OP, I'm close to you in age and income, and have had struggled with some of the same problems you're talking about.

It's really hard for me to meet and attract women, and I endure long periods of painful loneliness as a result.

This might just be an individual thing, but I find the best cure for my loneliness is work. Not office work, but doing work for me. I have two rental properties right now, and I'm getting ready to rent my home out (and move to an apartment in Philly), so there's always something to do. This evening I filled 5 contractor bags worth of junk from the basement and put them out by the curb. I've spent dozens of hours organizing and cleaning the place so it will show nicely, when we had that really warm weekend a couple of weeks ago I painted the porch.

Once I get settled into the new apartment, I'm going to save up a small pool of money and try to flip a house. Then I'll really be busy.

When I was in college, I forced myself to date "normies".... (girls that weren't colege bound) It only took me dating a couple of them to realize that I wouldn't be happy if I ended up with someone that was too far below my IQ. I ended up making it a point to date girls that were above 120 IQ and that had career goals.

If you have a university in your area, take some classes and infiltrate the honors program. Not all honors chicks belong to Omega Mu...

If you or the OP are happy with the single life, definitely look at saving up and maybe relocating to a new city. What most people in our age range find is that changing career, location, or job every 3-4 years keeps things fresh and exciting....much easier to do when single. The biggest problem with doing this is that you'll instantly lose your seniority.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

The more I think about it, the more I would like to leave this job on a 'no need to work' basis.

Yeah, I'm leaning that way myself. I just really don't like working for someone else and even though I just switched jobs in August, it is hard for me to stay motivated or to be excited about work.

 

[Blackjack200]

I crave manual labor type of work (frame houses, etc), but I couldn't support my family the way I want to on those salaries.

That's why I want to try flipping a house, if I do it right I'll get the satisfaction of all that work, and I'll actually get good money out of it.

When I was in college, I forced myself to date "normies".... (girls that weren't colege bound) It only took me dating a couple of them to realize that I wouldn't be happy if I ended up with someone that was too far below my IQ. I ended up making it a point to date girls that were above 120 IQ and that had career goals.

If you have a university in your area, take some classes and infiltrate the honors program. Not all honors chicks belong to Omega Mu...

If you or the OP are happy with the single life, definitely look at saving up and maybe relocating to a new city. What most people in our age range find is that changing career, location, or job every 3-4 years keeps things fresh and exciting....much easier to do when single. The biggest problem with doing this is that you'll instantly lose your seniority.

Yeah, that's really why I'm moving to Philly. I'll give it a couple years. If that doesn't work out, New York or London or some other financial hub where I can get a good job.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Yeah, I'm leaning that way myself. I just really don't like working for someone else and even though I just switched jobs in August, it is hard for me to stay motivated or to be excited about work.

Pretty much how I feel.

I just try not to think about it too much. Just do my 9-5 and live life to the fullest. Job is more of a tool than anything else. I don't really strive to find something that's a "dream" or perfect.

I accepted long ago that even my dream job would end up sucking after months/years of doing the same crap.

OP, I'm close to you in age and income, and have had struggled with some of the same problems you're talking about.

It's really hard for me to meet and attract women, and I endure long periods of painful loneliness as a result.

This might just be an individual thing, but I find the best cure for my loneliness is work. Not office work, but doing work for me. I have two rental properties right now, and I'm getting ready to rent my home out (and move to an apartment in Philly), so there's always something to do. This evening I filled 5 contractor bags worth of junk from the basement and put them out by the curb. I've spent dozens of hours organizing and cleaning the place so it will show nicely, when we had that really warm weekend a couple of weeks ago I painted the porch.

Once I get settled into the new apartment, I'm going to save up a small pool of money and try to flip a house. Then I'll really be busy.

Sounds good, but you are also taking the "make it even more difficult to find someone special" road.

 

[Texashiker]

Join the military and do something that you can talk about later in life.

Go see the world and let the government pay for it.

 

[chitwood]

start playing WoW