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Wow, what an awesome thread.
I was an IT Security Design guy for one of the top rail road companies. I worked with firewalls, vpn systems, routers, etc. I really liked my job.
Then my wife asked for a divorce and I kinda came unglued. This wasn't much appreciated by the corporate folks. High profile information security and mental instability does not exactly breed trust in one's decision making ability.
A month after the divorce was final I found myself unable to get back to the office from lunch because the left side of my body started breaking into these painful and debilitating spasms. It was confirmed a month later that I have Multiple Sclerosis.
Three months later I was determined to go back to work. Within a couple of weeks my lower back finally gave out after years of problems. I believe that it was the spasms that finally did it in. After all other options had been exhausted I had surgery to shave down two herniated discs.
I went back to work again for three weeks and had another bought with the MS that left me with some cognitive problems which landed me on long term disability.
So, at 37 I am now divorced, disabled, and living in my ex-wife's unfinished basement so I can be close to my kids.
This might all sound pretty bad but the truth is that I am happier living in this basement and getting to be a full time Dad than I ever was being a full time corporate mook, a part time delusional husband, and part time Dad.
How mercilessly rough, Eric. But you're savoring the silver lining, and that's such an wonderful perspective. Kids only get one childhood, and you're going to be there, loving and helping them through everything.
I'm noticing a lot of very impressive positions in this thread. It makes me ashamed to admit that I have one of the lowliest positions, Clerk. I sell beer, cigarettes, chips, candy, and I fry food for the bar that's upstairs from us. That's it. I've tried my hand at college a couple times, both of which i was forced to leave due to financial difficulties. Both of which i was within 1/2 of a year of graduating. So, now, i'm stuck at this dead-end job making barely enough to support anything i do.
[/vent]I must give props to those who achieved their dream, or achieved the positions they've worked hard for.
Woot! Crappy jobs represent!
Its curious how many military people show up here
Im a game designer/writer. What pays my bills is computer games, but I get some extras out of RPG designing
Im also a professional fiction writer with my second novel about to be published in portuguese-speaking countries
My current players are 3 game designers and a programmer, all from our game company (only one of us already lived in this city before been hired)
The other people who played with me from school days are now... let me see: a doctor, a security software developer, two engineers on a large oil company, another on a large mining company and a lawyer.
You guys really lucked out. Of the guys I played with in school, one is a night watchman, another is... still in school (he was a freshman when I graduated), another is a borderline-broke freelance writer, and one is working construction until he can get the cash for college. Basically, we're all a bunch of f@@@ups.
How mercilessly rough, Eric. But you're savoring the silver lining, and that's such an wonderful perspective. Kids only get one childhood, and you're going to be there, loving and helping them through everything.
Jade, thanks for the kind words.
My son and I have joked that I have become the stereotypical D&D gamer; no girlfriend, no job, living in a basement. It is nice to see how wrong people were in their assumptions about what affect playing RPG's would have on our lives.
How mercilessly rough, Eric. But you're savoring the silver lining, and that's such an wonderful perspective. Kids only get one childhood, and you're going to be there, loving and helping them through everything.Jade, thanks for the kind words.
My son and I have joked that I have become the stereotypical D&D gamer; no girlfriend, no job, living in a basement. It is nice to see how wrong people were in their assumptions about what affect playing RPG's would have on our lives.
LOL. I have to admit, whenever I see a an unfinished near finished basement that looks even remotely inhabitable, I want to turn it into my gamer dungeon. I blame the D&D.
Don't you need to know the language before hand? How do you get started in something like that?Yeah you can do pretty well in East Asia money wise. Tax rate in Korea is about the same as Taiwan, salaries are slightly higher starting. Free rent for most jobs too. Lotta teachers over bank away over half their salary and still manage to live well. If anyone's got an itch to get outta teh country for a year and teach it's not a bad gig. I'll say that going on my third year is making me a bit batty at times though heh.
Nah you don't need to know the language at all. I think in some European countries you do, but that has to do more with the fact that Westerners tend to learn European languages more than Asian ones. Trust me, if they required Korean before teaching here there'd be about 20 Western teachers on the whole peninsula.
The only country in East Asia that I've seen ask for some knowledge of the language is in Japan, and even that is rare. Getting started is pretty easy there are whole websites for the jobs, eslcafe.com and such is a good place to start. I don't know the situation in Taiwan personally but I've heard it's also pretty good. I've heard there's a bit more lifestyle and you can do some surfing there.
People known that play...
Warrant Officer IV - Army (UH-160 Blackhawk Maintenance Test Pilot)
Captain - Air Force (Public Relations)
Lieutenant Colonel - Air Force (Job: classified)
Automotive Parts Delivery Driver
Software Developer
UNIX Administrator
Lab Tech that makes Dentures, False Teeth, etc.
Gynecologist
Police Officer
MBA with a background in Finance
Web Developer
ESL Teacher in Japan
Lawyer specializing in Arms Patents and Real Estate
Skateboarder
Legally Recognized Arms Dealer specializing in the AR15/M4. He also holds about a dozen patents relating to equipment for the AR15/M4 rifles. Things like a single mount for both the Aim Point and 3x Magnifier.
Strange though that I don't know any artists or writers that play. It would be really cool to have someone to collaborate with. Not that I am discounting this community but it would be nice to have someone to work with in person.
LOL. I have to admit, whenever I see a an unfinished near finished basement that looks even remotely inhabitable, I want to turn it into my gamer dungeon. I blame the D&D.
The basement is just one large open space but I have three areas setup; bedroom, office, gaming table for me and up to 6 players. Nice...
Kruelaid has a new job.
I have bailed on the British lit. teaching gig for those that know about it.
I am now a production manager in an American wig factory in China. You want complicated? We make wigs according to specs that are different among the 10+ merchants who avail themselves of our services, as well as producing 100s of custom wigs every month.
I swear I've never seen such a complicated process in my life. It kicks D&D's ass.
Thank God I have an hour every day in the afternoon to teach English to their service reps so I can relax.
Nice wage, though, and the Chinese language work environment is doing wonders for my fluency.
Kruelaid has a new job.
I have bailed on the British lit. teaching gig for those that know about it.
I am now a production manager in an American wig factory in China. You want complicated? We make wigs according to specs that are different among the 10+ merchants who avail themselves of our services, as well as producing 100s of custom wigs every month.
I swear I've never seen such a complicated process in my life. It kicks D&D's ass.
Thank God I have an hour every day in the afternoon to teach English to their service reps so I can relax.
Nice wage, though, and the Chinese language work environment is doing wonders for my fluency.
You are amazing, dude. I just can't imagine how absolutely freakinly odd your life is. Color me jealous.
Hugo Solis
(Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Companion, Modules Subscriber)
I work as a cashier at the local supermarket while I finish my TESL Degree (Teaching English as a Second Language) at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. This is my second try at college after a rough, depression-fueled previous drop out.
For those of you, like me, still struggling to get ahead have faith and keep fighting! As we say in Puerto Rico "A Dios orando y con el mazo dando".
Rough translation: "Pray to God and smash with your mace".
I'm a cashier at Home Depot. I'm working on my BS in Computer Science, too. Like Baracutey above me, chronic depression has made getting a degree a long endeavor, but I'm only 23 classes away from graduation (which isn't as much as it seems, as my university is on the quarter system). This is my third try, so hopefully I get it right this time!
I am the CEO of this gaming company in Seattle. ;)
-Lisa
Ok, now you're just gloating :) I am sooo envious :)
I've done everything from flipping burgers to working on an experimental nuclear reactor and I would prefer to have your job... Not yours, exactly - you're doing a fine job - one like yours, rather. Yeah, that's what I meant. :)
The only country in East Asia that I've seen ask for some knowledge of the language is in Japan, and even that is rare. Getting started is pretty easy there are whole websites for the jobs, eslcafe.com and such is a good place to start. I don't know the situation in Taiwan personally but I've heard it's also pretty good. I've heard there's a bit more lifestyle and you can do some surfing there.
Thank you! I'll be looking into this. :)
Editor/Writer/Game Designer/Musician... in that order.
I've got to chime in and agree that the list of professions I'm seeing on this thread is seriously impressive. It seems to me that, if we needed to, we could restart modern society with just people from the Paizo boards.
Not that I'm suggesting such a thing.
Inspired by Eric's post...
PEOPLE I KNOW WHO GAME:
- High school senior, part-time construction worker
- High school senior, busboy
- High school junior
- Public TV station manager, liquor store assistant manager (seasonal)
- Night watchman, former National Guardsman / heater salesman
- IT technician for a hospital, former tech support personnel
- Struggling freelance writer
- Part-time camp counselor, freelance artist
- Graveyard-shift dishwasher
- Former computer store owner/manager (currently in prison)
- Short-order cook
- Theater student, part-time camp counselor
- High school health teacher, former Staff Sgt. US Army (saw action during Desert Storm)
- High school metal shop teacher, part-time carpenter
- Linguistics student, part-time camp counselor
- Record store clerk, part-time camp counselor
- Sporadically employed musician, part-time camp counselor
Again, mostly a bunch of f$@!ups. Big surprise.
I honestly can't remember if I posted here yet, so:
By day, I am a tired engineering student, withdrawn and cranky.
By night, I don the cape (okay, it's an apron), hat and uniform and become Dishwasher Lad, able to clean and maintain a restaurant for 5 straight hours! no grime or tray is safe from the justice that is my green scrubby pad! no dust able to avoid my broom and mob, the tools of my trade!
