Jump to content

Wood working/Gardening


Recommended Posts

We got any wood working or gardening folks in here? Building with wood. Using a saw mill. Selling their goods. Canning and perserving goods. Selling at the farmer markets? 

 

I've been thinking about not working at costco for a while and kinda just doing work I'm more interested in. Gardening, farming, farmers market type things to make money or walking dogs idc. 

I know what most will say... I'm crazy. 

But I hate where my mind is at. I don't like making costco money and honestly would rather not worry about money. But I know that's not really realistic. 

 

I'm just trying to get more ideas or just talk with some people with know how on how to better my self.. it's not that I hate costco or hate working. I'm a hard worker and I'm not afraid to try new things and fail.. it happens.. but I'm not happy with my 40 hours a week at costco.. I feel like I don't have time to think about my life or my wifes mindset. 

 

How are people dealing with the "normal" life. 9 to 5. I know I'm young and I'm being a pussy to some but Im trying to better my mind! And better my wifes mind. 

 

Link to comment
  • Replies 17
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

I don't think you are crazy.  I think you are just like many other people right now.  Lots of people are feeling trapped by "menial" jobs and bailing.  Last month was the highest number of job quits ever recorded by the Dept of Labor.

 

When I was a teenager (a good 20 years ago) I read an article about work life "success" that has stuck with me ever since.  It defined success as the combination of 3 factors. Those factors are

      1) The work you do

      2) The amount you are paid for that work

     3) The people you work with

 

and then it instructed you to ask yourself if you are happy with each of those factors in your life.  If you have all 3, don't complain because you actually have it pretty amazing.  If you have 2, then it should be bearable, but there might be reason to look for another opportunity.  If you only have 1, or worse - none, then GTFO.  I encourage you to apply that to your current job.

 

I work a 9 to 5.  For the last 15 months, that job was work from home.  It took me 8 months to learn how to do my job and also be at home with a wife and 2 young kids.  But we did figure it out.  Then two weeks ago, I had to start coming back to the office, with an hour commute each way.  I hate it.  Now that I have figured out how to do my job from home, I don't want to do my job from the office anymore.  Me working from home gave my wife a huge amount of freedom that I treasured.  I do enjoy what I do (more or less) and I work with one of my closest friends, so those things help.

 

I survive the 9 to 5 typically by taking the time I need for myself to stay sane, then devoting the rest of my time to my family.  I make personal time a priority for me, but then I make personal time for my wife every bit as big a priority.  I insist she take time for herself and leave the kids and me behind.  In my family, we are all much more sane and reasonable when we take that time for ourselves to "detox" from whatever stressers we are dealing with.  I work only to pay for taking care of my family.  We have just enough to be ok on my income and have a little left over for fun.  We are not wealthy, and I don't think I have what it takes to ever get to that point.

I went and followed the traditional American Dream format.  I got an advanced education (I'm a lawyer), I got a desk job, I have a mortgage and 2 kids.  And it's working out well enough for me to not complain. But that road isn't for everyone.  However, there is a road for everyone.

The following are the questions I think would help you start to find that "better you".

             What is lacking in your life?  Satisfaction with work, self, etc?

             What might provide that missing element?  Will farmers markets provide that, etc?

             How does your wife feel about the idea?  Is she working a job she is happy with?

             Can you provide for your family while gaining that satisfaction?  If not, can your wife's job pick up any slack in finances?

             Will financial stress destroy your marriage?  Is what is missing in your life destroying your marriage?

             Can you devote more time to giving to your wife, regardless of the other decisions?  When I'm really angry at home I try to go and burn off that energy by doing things around the house for my wife.  Then instead of yelling at each other, I'm giving her freedom from some of the stupid day to day chores that always need doing (and also some time free of my bitchy punk ass).

            

I know none of this has anything to do with gardening or farmers markets.  But I hope maybe I said something that can help you decide how to move forward.

 

Edited by Lockleaf
  • Like 3
Link to comment

Ugh. I've been a finish carpenter for the last 12 years with a small company working in mostly high-end homes for multi-million/billionaires in Santa Barbara/Montecito, CA.  Just picked up and moved half way across the country with no job lined up, because of housing costs.

 

I think there is only one person I know who has made it in "woodworking", going out on his own, but he already had family money so I think the risk/stress was minimized, and he is very talented and confident.

 

I have a hard time imagining the market for the kind of stuff you see for sale on Etsy, etc, but apparently it does exist. There's a lot to be said for a consistent job, compared to working for yourself, or working in the trades where you're never guaranteed work. Of course if you can establish yourself, work will find you, it's just hard to get over that hurdle if you're like me and not full of inherent confidence, but instead filled with anxiety 😐. If you're not afraid to fail, I guess you should try it, but hopefully you already have the skills.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Don't know any wood working haha! Just interested in learning not so much that being what I do to make money. I hate the idea of money really. I don't want money to be the thing that drives my life. My wife is with me. She's done with her job.. it would be my job that makes us money. But what I want is not care about the money.. knowing i will need some.. to get shit done and live in today's world.. but also worred about the future. 

 The fact that people can leave their jobs and move away is aw inspiring! 

You see. I don't own a house or land.. I live with my wifes parents in their big house. Now I know I'm complaining.. my wife is an only child.. and being so her parents really like having us here. We help them a good deal. And they also understand that times are hard. Buying a house or land is ridiculous. And getting a loan for a house is doable YES! but I feel as though if I get the house and loan but feel like it would  solidify working at costco tell I pay off the house.. I know I don't have to pay it off I could sell.. just going through all that crap is just stuff I'd rather not fucking deal with.. 

Im being a little bitch I know. 

I have a good job. 

Good wife. 

No kids. 

But we both hate our jobs. And how we view our jobs.. 

 

 

I found out the other day that one costco worker brings costco 200+K a year to costco.. I made 40k last year... 

 

 

Link to comment

Until I was 38 I worked at what ever came by and paid enough for beer, basically. The average was 2.1 years over 17 and 2 years unemployed. On top of that there were a few 'day jobs' like raising circus tents, delivering flyers, dump runs. Oh yeah, 38. Got fired from a job of 2 years that I should have left 12 months earlier. (as usual over stayed my welcome) By total accident I had a job the next day through the ex of the girl I was living with. It was working outdoors land surveying. Never worked outdoors before, brutal Ontario winters and hot summers but lots to learn about work and lots to learn about outdoors (plants, animals, dressing for weather, going places you would otherwise never get to see) One thing led to another and 2 years later was out of a job (economy) and I migrated out west and started with another company and spent the rest of my working life surveying outdoors. 

 

42 minutes ago, Lockleaf said:

  I read an article about work life "success" that has stuck with me ever since.  It defined success as the combination of 3 factors. Those factors are

      1) The work you do

      2) The amount you are paid for that work

     3) The people you work with

 

1/ I liked the work, it was mostly precise measurements locally and sometimes travel and gone for the week. I tried to be as precise as possible and better than my co workers doing the same thing. This led to a good reputation and some good opportunities later. Mud to the waist, bug stings, humidity, sideways rain and wet 10 hrs a day for a week, cold blowing snow on a mountain... the good days more than made up for it... and the solitude... and not dealing with people.  Who would have known that I was actually an outdoor dog

 

2/ Pay was OK and slowly got better, but liking what I did to earn it mitigated any slight lack. People paid me to go and see things in places I would never have visited!

 

3/ I worked with one guy 24 years and another for 5. Got along well with both. Either I lucked out or I'm easy to work with. All I had to do was give them what they wanted and be ready.

 

So keep looking and find your bliss. Money isn't everything, live frugally and within your means. Happiness is relative, a rich person cannot be happier than a poor person. Many's the time I was standing on the side of the road in the ditch waiting for my work partner to be ready, and I'm happier than a clam and in my element, enjoying the sun on my face and I see the grim looks on the faces of the drivers heading to work. 

 

If you like what you do and can make enough of a living and get by, you may find yourself strangely happy.

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
3 hours ago, uberkevin said:

Don't know any wood working haha! Just interested in learning not so much that being what I do to make money. I hate the idea of money really. I don't want money to be the thing that drives my life. My wife is with me. She's done with her job.. it would be my job that makes us money. But what I want is not care about the money.. knowing i will need some.. to get shit done and live in today's world.. but also worred about the future. 

 The fact that people can leave their jobs and move away is aw inspiring! 

You see. I don't own a house or land.. I live with my wifes parents in their big house. Now I know I'm complaining.. my wife is an only child.. and being so her parents really like having us here. We help them a good deal. And they also understand that times are hard. Buying a house or land is ridiculous. And getting a loan for a house is doable YES! but I feel as though if I get the house and loan but feel like it would  solidify working at costco tell I pay off the house.. I know I don't have to pay it off I could sell.. just going through all that crap is just stuff I'd rather not fucking deal with.. 

Im being a little bitch I know. 

I have a good job. 

Good wife. 

No kids. 

But we both hate our jobs. And how we view our jobs.. 

 

 

I found out the other day that one costco worker brings costco 200+K a year to costco.. I made 40k last year... 

 

 

 

We don't own yet either, and my wife can work remote no problem, and now we, too, are living with my wife's family...for a while.  I don't know anyone who works because they love money, but it greases the wheels of life and how we live it in a 1st world country. Sure, you could live entirely off the land and via barter, but that only suits a select few. I didn't hate my job at all, really - good days & bad, but mostly interesting and with a good amount of variety. My boss was great, coworkers all great or at least tolerable, and the pay would be almost excellent except for the area I was in, but housing costs were just insurmountable with only one of us working full time.

 

Part of what I think you really need to do is make a budget - a real one that includes all of your mandatory expenses as well as your normal month-to-month expenses on the things you would like to have but aren't 100% a necessity, but make life enjoyable (eg pocket spending money, internet/TV bill, hobby allowance, etc).  Also include retirement, a down payment fund if you intend to buy a house, an emergency fund, etc. Look up zero based budgeting.  This will tell you where your money is going and what your minimums are for starters. My wife & I live frugally for the most part and have saved a good down payment for the area we just moved to, and put quite a bit into retirement, but it took living in a really small place and that gets to you, especially with kids...

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Don't know if this will help but i changed jobs about a year and a half ago because of burnout and stress.I took a 10 dollar an hour pay cut to work in the boat industry doing woodwork and fiberglass stuff.I have a lot of experience with both.Money wasn't an issue,i just wanted happiness and a stress free life.It was my brother i went to work with.Turns out he's a clown and an asshole at the same time.The Covid thing hit while i was kicking myself for leaving my other job.Turns out work got extremely slow so i quit and got the unemployment thing going.Five months later i'm sick and tired of sitting around.I contacted my former employer who was glad to have me back.I'm getting my better pay again and do my best to cope with the stress part.I build staircases and some of them are extremely difficult to fabricate.I've realized it can't be all easy all the time.Costco is a pretty good place to work from what i've heard.Think about it hard before you bail on them.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

 i haven't had a job since 1995,,,   😅

 

 

  First if you both have decent paying jobs and live rent free with no children and don't have a sizable savings, you definitely   need to start a written down budget 

 TODAY

 

Ok, enough dad lecture for now ,,, check this 

Some of my old screw up buddies have made themselves a good living doing this shit.  Not high paying but kind of " be your own boss"

 

 Buy a trailer with lean down rear so you can drive up into it , buy cheap ,dependable lawn mower , weedwacker , and a rake or grass blower,,  also because sun causes cancer,  buy a good head covering for the sun ,, hustle like a porn star,  

 

 move to Miami beach,,  and sand / varnish yachts woodwork ,, railings, exterior trim,, shit like that... All you need is a small handheld tool box with sandpaper, wipe rags, little cans of varnish, small battery powered vacuum and paint brushes ( maybe a small foldable chair) .  It's an ongoing thing on every yacht, so you are never really done.   Before he died of violence's, my highschool friend made an obnoxious amount 

 

Buy a small dump truck (5 yard-ish) off a farmer- older gas powered so cheap buy and to maintain.  deliver dirt and gravel all over.. Beauty  is its small enough to get into properties 10-12 yard trucks can't . 

 

 

retire to San Felipe Mexico and rent bicycles by the seashore ,, not as insane as it sounds. 

 

 

 

.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

What can you do or are you good at? If you are handy there is a huge population of people who aren't. Job wise to make money you need certs. Whether a degree from college or some higher licensing. Think airline pilot not a college thing but a licensing. Same thing with truckers the more certs the better the pay. Basically jobwise the harder you are to replace the better the pay. A lot harder to replace a medical doctor than a busboy. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
5 hours ago, john510 said:

Don't know if this will help but i changed jobs about a year and a half ago because of burnout and stress.I took a 10 dollar an hour pay cut to work in the boat industry doing woodwork and fiberglass stuff.I have a lot of experience with both.Money wasn't an issue,i just wanted happiness and a stress free life.It was my brother i went to work with.Turns out he's a clown and an asshole at the same time.The Covid thing hit while i was kicking myself for leaving my other job.Turns out work got extremely slow so i quit and got the unemployment thing going.Five months later i'm sick and tired of sitting around.I contacted my former employer who was glad to have me back.I'm getting my better pay again and do my best to cope with the stress part.I build staircases and some of them are extremely difficult to fabricate.I've realized it can't be all easy all the time.Costco is a pretty good place to work from what i've heard.Think about it hard before you bail on them.

 

What type of stair work? Wood? Metal? Everything or just part (eg handrail)?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
12 hours ago, uberkevin said:

Don't know any wood working haha! Just interested in learning not so much that being what I do to make money. I hate the idea of money really. I don't want money to be the thing that drives my life. My wife is with me. She's done with her job.. it would be my job that makes us money. But what I want is not care about the money.. knowing i will need some.. to get shit done and live in today's world.. but also worred about the future. 

 The fact that people can leave their jobs and move away is aw inspiring! 

You see. I don't own a house or land.. I live with my wifes parents in their big house. Now I know I'm complaining.. my wife is an only child.. and being so her parents really like having us here. We help them a good deal. And they also understand that times are hard. Buying a house or land is ridiculous. And getting a loan for a house is doable YES! but I feel as though if I get the house and loan but feel like it would  solidify working at costco tell I pay off the house.. I know I don't have to pay it off I could sell.. just going through all that crap is just stuff I'd rather not fucking deal with.. 

Im being a little bitch I know. 

I have a good job. 

Good wife. 

No kids. 

But we both hate our jobs. And how we view our jobs.. 

 

 

I found out the other day that one costco worker brings costco 200+K a year to costco.. I made 40k last year... 

 

 

I would like to do all Datsun stuff and never have to work 

I would like to travel and never have to work 

I would like to get paid and not worry about money and never have to work 

All of the above items are not realistic 

if you don't need money why go to work ? you don't have rent/ electric bills / grocery bills ? or do you 

you will become what you make of yourself if you have no drive you will not be driven 

most people work because they have to to pay rent/mortgage/food/gas etc. 

If you don't like your job do something to make it better or find something better to do 

your wifes parents will not live forever and at some point you will need/want money to be able to support your wife and eventually maybe a family 

just my 2 cents 

my dad taught me to work and if you don't have enough money for the things you want work harder 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
7 hours ago, thisismatt said:

 

What type of stair work? Wood? Metal? Everything or just part (eg handrail)?

Wood and metal.Metal is always stainless using the parts and pieces from Indital.Wood is both handrail and full treads.Straight,curved we do it all.One of the popular things now is wood railings with stainless horizontal balusters.We usually don't do any rough framing of stairs.

Link to comment
2 hours ago, john510 said:

Wood and metal.Metal is always stainless using the parts and pieces from Indital.Wood is both handrail and full treads.Straight,curved we do it all.One of the popular things now is wood railings with stainless horizontal balusters.We usually don't do any rough framing of stairs.

 

Cool. My old boss liked taking stair jobs, but I always thought it was a bit too specialized for how we were set up. I've done a few, but can't post the most elaborate due to the client...

Link to comment

CDL driver for 27 years. yard work, gardening and wood work are my current passions. grew this two years ago. Maximilian sunflower. they grow wild in the ditches here. this is what they look like when you get 'em all jacked up on fish fertilizer and worm castings. they're unusual for a sunflower because they propagate from a bulb.

 

maxxun.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment

 For what it's worth, i hate being a farmer 

 

   

 

    @uberkevin

 

I think you two are dreamers/free spirits and as such should follow them..  Go to Morocco, work the docks in Casablanca.  Go to Swiss alps and get job as gondolier controller, or gift shop in a town that looks like it's straight out of a magazine.  Prague,, and get touristy type job,, it may suck but the up side is you're in fucking Prague.. Not sure how 420 friendly any those are though. 

 

 

.. Living with parents doesn't bother me at all. 

 I moved away by fall after graduation but not because i hated my parents, i just couldn't raise as much hell there. 

 

 

 

 

 

,

 

 

.

 

 

 

.  

 

 

.

Edited by bananahamuck
Link to comment

I'm lucky enough to have found my wife and her parents. They changed my mind so much. Mostly got that California life style out of my head. Started listening to Dave ramsay and following what he has to say, budget, save. Budget, budget. Saving isn't that big of a deal for me. I'm saving money.. also even investing be it stocks or crypto, I also pour money into my 401k. 

I think 15% of my pay goes to that. 

 

I feel ya nanner... but I love America! Lol. Your kinda right tho. We are free spirirts in a way. I think we're just having a hard time finding out what way we wanna go. Do we wanna get the loan for the 350k house. Or get a loan for the 175 200k land.. we can't find shit around here so it makes me wanna move states. Land is what I'm shooting for. Lexi does have land! 80 something acres in the blue mountains with a spring.. it's just.. pretty far out there. Kinda a fall back for when the CCP hit us with an EMP. Hahaha 

 

I don't hate my job, and have always held my work to high standards. I take pride in the work I do. Even if I pick up dog shit or wipe old pwoples ass's.. my Grandfather, Harold a brick layer for 50 years was there for me since I was 13 to help teach me hard work.. I'm not lazy at work. And not afraid to learn new shit. I seek out new skills. And probably why I don't want to really work at costco. Or! Move to part-time to take the time to set up other shit.. 

 

The pay is great! No complaints there. 

But it's not about the money. It's our minds. Maybe the work I'm doing isn't satisfying me. I kill my job! But it'd not challenging. Or just so idk. Not what I should be doing 'how it feels' anyway. 

 

Now the people is really what gets to me. Yes some are great! But the ones that aren't really hurt the Deli 'I work in the deli at costco' chickens, Alfredo, Mac, meat loaf. Ya know! 

I have helped train sooo many people! 

Some stick around and change their shitty work ethic.. but most.. SUCK! How the hell do you not know how to work.. basic shit.. slow, don't think of their steps. 

It's hard to deal with the turn over rate. 

The turn over rate really fucks my schedule. For almost a year my schedule was pretty good. Now it's all over the map. Open one day, mid shift next day, next day closing. And so on. 

Not having a good schedule fucks my day up and fucks with my mind.. 

And there isn't much I can do about that. Just wait I guess. 

 

Idk. I'll think of more to say later. Gotta check the chickens and walk the dog. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't have time it feels to do the things I'd like.. I know everyone has that problem.. I haven't worked on the datsun in almost two years. 

I know it runs so.. she'll be there when I get the time.. 

 

Edited by uberkevin
  • Like 1
Link to comment

I hear ya on the suck of constant training.  I was the lead trainer at an O'reilly's for years with a manager who was abrasive enough to most people to cause much higher turn over than other locations had.  As a trainer, You have to do three times the work. You have to do your work.  You have to train the trainee.  You have do the work of the Trainee because they do everything too slow and usually wrong.  Its exhausting.  I ended up transferring to a different store farther from home just to get out of that situation.

 

Pick something from the datsun that needs doing, something that be messed with in small stints.  I don't know the condition of your ride, but maybe you need to reupholster the bench.  Pull the upholstery and then you can, here and there, start marking it up and taking it apart to make a new one.  Or whatever.  It doesn't matter what it is.  If there is mental balance or zen to be found working on the car, find something that fits into an imbalanced schedule and get to doing it.  Just pick one little thing and go.

 

My true personal satisfaction is found building cars.  I almost don't care about driving them when I am done.  It's the build that matters.  The challenge, the solutions I can come up with, the physical labor, the pride in myself, those are things I gain from playing with cars that refresh and renew me mentally.  It is my best and most valuable relief valve for the rest of my life.  Without it, I get mentally itchy, twichy, and bitchy.  My home life quality drops, which is really the only quality of life I care about.  

 

So get in there.  Do something simple.  Do something dumb.  just do SOMETHING on the Datsun.  It might not be much, but I bet it will help, right from the first time you do it.

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.