What if…
I started writing this on vacation on a text file on my phone because it struck me in some random place in the world one thing that I love about my job: freedom.
I forget if it was in an email or on twitter reply, but one person asked me a “what if” question: What if you quit working, what would you miss the most about your job?
This. I would miss this. Being able to take a vacation and then extend it for whatever amount of time that I wanted. Go wherever I wanted and no one calling me saying I have to get back to work. I had one phonegirl call me since I left to see how was my vacation, I sent her an expensive text back saying that I’m fine and will be back who knows when. I’m off to explore the world.
I would miss not having to tell or explain to people where when or why I am going somewhere, for an extended amount of time. Put in notices in advance to someone or clients (if I owned my own company). There is nothing right now holding me back from going anywhere at anytime when I want. I don’t have to wait for a paycheck when I get back to reset or if I went over vacation days. When I get back I can work and earn immediately.
I know since I’ve been gone one girl was going to leave Vegas and go find a job (adding: I found out since returning that she really has moved on,) in another state and live with relatives. I asked her the same question: What are you going to miss the most? She said the work schedule and making up her own time slots that she preferred. She liked working the swing shift, 5pm to about midnight. She took off when she wanted to spend time at home and always took off Sundays. She has a strong personality and she was concerned that she wouldn’t do well with the sudden change of having a real boss and job where she didn’t earn much. Also the change of earning a paycheck that came after a certain time, not just cash-in-hand. These are some of the same things that would worry me, but I know she could do it and glad she is… best of luck to her.
Now I am back, it’s been hard to be motivated to get back to work. I am feeling better, but the change back to heat and the worst case of jet lag I have ever had (I’m guessing it’s because I was gone for so long,) I’m sure I’ll get back in the swing of things tonight or tomorrow. Now that I think of it, preferably tomorrow because I don’t know if I can deal with the drunken pool party goers on Sundays who have stayed awake since Friday night. Tomorrow it is.
I can see the appeal and I’m jealous. I just wonder when you decide it’s your time to move on what you will do and how you will handle it. I would think it hard to get a paycheck job because you have so many years with no work history and your earnings would drop, and maybe other things I don’t know.
July 15th, 2012 at 5:34 pmFreedom!
Well said my friend.
Frank
July 16th, 2012 at 12:23 pmI really thought that you might say you would miss some of the men. It must be fascinating when you have really nice guys trying their best to please you.
I can see the freedom that this lifestyle provides. That is as good a reason as there can be.
Frank
July 18th, 2012 at 2:51 pmMissed you. Hope you enjoyed yourself. It’s always great when you can really lay back and just go on your own time and pace. With girls leaving and retiring, I wondered if you were contemplating the same thing. I have not seen you take this much time off. I considered everything you said but then I figured there is another variable that falls into the equation. Money. All these cannot happen unless you can financially back the length of time you spend on vacation. The reality is we all have bills we need to pay. The advantage in your line of work is that it is fully portable and you can at any time, anywhere (I think) go to work. Think about it. You can never get stuck anywhere for lack or loss of funds. Have you ever gone on a working vacation? Again, welcome back and please share any photos you feel secure about showing us.
July 20th, 2012 at 7:02 amGood for you Chica! You have me smiling at the fact that you can take a vacation. In this economy, that privilege has been taken away from a lot of people.
Getting back to work is hard…but if you love what you do then….
July 27th, 2012 at 1:05 pmI am constantly being asked when I am going to retire by people who aren’t really in my life. I am happy with my work right now and just becuase I might get a degree in something doesn’t mean I will stop working. but for some reason they are trying to tell me how i need to think of retiring and not let it happen on my own terms.
July 30th, 2012 at 5:13 amThat’s the luxury of being your own boss. Having a lot of leeway on what you get to do. Thats what I want to do be able to build my own company and be able to go on those long vacays.
July 30th, 2012 at 2:16 pmYou are correct in realizing how nice it is to have the luxury of freedom. Those of us that have it recognize how much it makes life that much nicer to deal with. If one can learn to be self disciplined then one can easily succeed in this type of self paced work. How nice it is to work as hard as you want, when you want and then play as hard as you want, knowing that when you return to work you can pick up where you left off.
August 6th, 2012 at 7:26 amGlad you got back safe from your trip.
Ahhh… Good old freedom. I’m sure most of the girls will miss it once they retire from the industry. It’s nice to know you’re back in business. Best regards.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:12 pmI definitely don’t want a paycheck job and even if I did I don’t think it would be hard to find even without the work history.
August 18th, 2012 at 1:28 pm