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SockMarket (85.86)

A Little Help From Those With More Life Experience

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June 18, 2010 – Comments (39) | RELATED TICKERS: H , ELP

It seems to me that fun professions don't pay well, unless your life's calling is to be a CPA (no offence meant to any CPA's out there). There are many causes, and I will not go into them, however this appears to be the case, especially for what I consider fun.

The low pay raises the question: Should one do what they love, or what is financially rewarding and leads to an earlier retirement.

I find myself in that situation now. I have gotten into a good business school and could easily take the investment banker route (yuck. Scams really aren't my thing!), a middling approach to courses and come out working as a financial planner (or similar), or skip the business school entirely. Once I make a choice I cannot go back.

My preferance is for the final option, since my passion is anthropological & archeological in nature.

While I enjoy looking at stocks I have taken finance and economics classes from the best teachers in my High School and was bored to death in the classes; not because the material was old hat but because I nearly couldn't bring myself to memorize the Money Supply curve, or what affects Long Run Aggregate Supply. Another four years of that would be horrible.

 

The Question

Is it worth it to study what you want in college, and put off any job concerns for another 4+ years, or is it smarter to go the safe route and take the high income and safe job?

 

(for those who would suggest it: I certainly cannot double major, and it is doubtful as to whether I could minor in either a science or a business degree while majoring in the other) 

Although I am a teenager, and as a result know everything :-), I don't have much life experience, and almost none with colleges or jobs. 

Thank you to all who write in. 

39 Comments – Post Your Own

#1) On June 18, 2010 at 10:40 PM, russiangambit (29.94) wrote:

> Is it worth it to study what you want in college, and put off any job concerns for another 4+ years, or is it smarter to go the safe route and take the high income and safe job?

I vote  for a safe job that you love. Something that doesn't pay and you love you always do on a side. There is absolutely no reason to study something you dislike or find boring. You won't be ble to stick with it for more than 2-3 years, it will be a waste.

Though, why you don't like finance I really don't know. I think it is very intresting like a puzzle. But then most people find math boring too, lol.

Seriously, though. This country has enough financiers. You need to study something you like and then you can go back for MBA a few years after you figure out what it is you really want to do. Get some real profession first. Finance is not even  profession as far as I am concerned, you don't produce anything. Archeology is also more like a hobby in my mind. It is not going to feed your family, that is for sure.

 

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#2) On June 18, 2010 at 10:40 PM, russiangambit (29.94) wrote:

> Is it worth it to study what you want in college, and put off any job concerns for another 4+ years, or is it smarter to go the safe route and take the high income and safe job?

I vote  for a safe job that you love. Something that doesn't pay and you love you always do on a side. There is absolutely no reason to study something you dislike or find boring. You won't be able to stick with it for more than 2-3 years, it will be a waste.

Though, why you don't like finance I really don't know. I think it is very intresting like a puzzle. But then most people find math boring too, lol.

Seriously, though. This country has enough financiers. You need to study something you like and then you can go back for MBA a few years after you figure out what it is you really want to do. Get some real profession first. Finance is not even  profession as far as I am concerned, you don't produce anything. Archeology is also more like a hobby in my mind. It is not going to feed your family, that is for sure.

 

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#3) On June 18, 2010 at 11:05 PM, SockMarket (85.86) wrote:

russ,

I am not really sure what you are saying since what I like isn't very safe. My apalogies if I wasn't clear but the finance option is safe while the archeology option isn't. 

That said the major advice makes good sense. Thank you.

 

 

I don't like finance because I have my own way of looking at things which seems to work well and it is very hard to put that on the shelf and accept "traditional wisdom". Also, my finance major would include mostly economics classes with some marketing. There are only a couple of true finance courses. 

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#4) On June 18, 2010 at 11:18 PM, portefeuille (99.77) wrote:

You should first find out whether you are a good mathematician. If you are you shoulf read the whole book. If you are not you might also want to read it. It is one of my favourites and should not take longer than an hour or so to read ...



enlarge

(from here)

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#5) On June 18, 2010 at 11:22 PM, portefeuille (99.77) wrote:

shoulf

should

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#6) On June 18, 2010 at 11:58 PM, allstarvulture (< 20) wrote:

Daniel-

Pursue what you love.  There is no amount of money in the world that will compensate you adequately for professional misery.  If you are lucky enough that your passion will be your profession, you won't want to contemplate early retirement anyway.  I am telling you this as a 41 year old who has been working since the age of 13 and has been at both ends of the spectrum. 

Best of luck in your endeavors.

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#7) On June 19, 2010 at 12:00 AM, awallejr (80.15) wrote:

In the end life is short.  Choose a career that you will enjoy.  Unlike billlions of people on this planet, you are fortunate enough to be in a situation where you can make a choice.  The stock market will always be there no matter what career choice you eventually make.  You can invest "wisely" as well as have fun with your career.  Understand, however, that your options will be limited in anthropology and/or archeology (field work, writing, teaching), but there is no guarantee with a "safe" finance career either.

 

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#8) On June 19, 2010 at 12:07 AM, awallejr (80.15) wrote:

And Port I found this quote from your link interesting:

"It is quite true that most people can do nothing well.  If so, it matters little what career they choose, and there really is nothing more to say about it."

With that said, then at least enjoy what you do.

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#9) On June 19, 2010 at 12:29 AM, portefeuille (99.77) wrote:

#8 That is one of my favourite parts of that book. And I almost wrote something like that but as I think I might already be considered a little arrogant around here and considering that I am one of those poor souls that probably are not exceptionally good at anything I refrained from doing so, hehe ...

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#10) On June 19, 2010 at 12:33 AM, portefeuille (99.77) wrote:

That book by the way is really entertaining and if it were not I would probably still like it at least for fact that the foreword is more extensive than the main text ...

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#11) On June 19, 2010 at 12:35 AM, portefeuille (99.77) wrote:

Also great are the parts about Ramanujan.

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#12) On June 19, 2010 at 12:41 AM, portefeuille (99.77) wrote:

#10 I was in the top10 in fencing in my "birth year group" in Germany for a few years but I don't think that can be considered a profession ...

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#13) On June 19, 2010 at 12:44 AM, portefeuille (99.77) wrote:

http://math.boisestate.edu/~holmes/holmes/A%20Mathematician%27s%20Apology.pdf

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#14) On June 19, 2010 at 1:32 AM, SockMarket (85.86) wrote:

allstar,

thanks. that is pretty solid advice.

My only regret would be that I really love kids and when i have one (or two) I would like to be there to watch them grow up, not off working. 

 

awallejr,

that makes good sense, and it is true that there isn't specifically any more safety in finance than archeology. Afterall, if I were unemployed I would earn the same amount in either profession :-)

That said, about changing careers: I would think that it would be possible, even if I didn't major in something to change to that field later on. As Port said I could, say, go back to school to get an MBA. Of course I wouldn't want to do this if it were at all avoidable.

 

port,

Thanks for all the reading. It will certainly take a little while but I think it will be worth it!

I haven't read anything yet, so this is premature, however some arguments against awall's quote:

Well is a relative term, the idea that most people can't do stuff well cannot be accurate since well is based off the average and while it is technically possible that more than 1/2 the pop could be below average with more than 6.7B samples I really doubt it.

The above aside, for the usual intent of the word I would argue that since we get stuff done, and frequently it works (unless you are Microsoft) most people can, and do, do stuff well. Of course I am far more strongly pursuaded by Locke than Hobbs (or Calvin) and I suspect you are the opposite. 

Oh, and I am not good at math. I can do it but do not enjoy it in the least.

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#15) On June 19, 2010 at 1:58 AM, whereaminow (70.26) wrote:

port,

That book (Apology) is very good. Just read it a few months ago and enjoyed it very much.  However, if you are good at math, programming is the field to be.  You can make a ton of money - see Mark Zuckerberg - and have sex with Victoria Secret's models even if you are repellent to the eyes - see Mark Zuckerberg.   

daniel,

Just focus on doing whatever it is you decide to the best of your abilities.  If you end up in finance, be the best finance guy.  If you end up sweeping floors, be the best floor sweeper.  It's more important to build character traits that will help you throughout life, rather than trying to find what you enjoy.  The only thing a young adult truly enjoys is parties and fornicating. (Well, maybe some young people are smarter than I was...)  Odds aren't good that you are going to get paid to do that.  Besides that, keep looking for the work that is both enjoyable and financially rewarding, and be prepared to start all over again when you find it.  It's out there.  I started my career all over again in my late 20's.  It paid off.  I may do it again one day if it's worth it.

David in Qatar

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#16) On June 19, 2010 at 2:11 AM, Starfirenv (< 20) wrote:

Daniel- From what you have show here, I think you wil do well whatever you decide. As for the "more experienced" part, I have one word for you- travel. Travel to areas rich with Paleontology,
anthropology & archeology. Maybe go to Southern Mexico and discover the Maya or Lacanda, climb some pyramids- ck out Palenque, Chichen Itza, Tuluum (on a bluff overlooking the Carribean). If you like, drop down into Belize. There's a Univ in Belmopan that may interest you. They work with TCU UC Davis (tropical Ag) and I think Johns Hopkins (medical) and lots of Mayan excavation, etc,with full accredation. 
Travel is a good way to "broaden horizons", giving you more of a basis to both quantify and qualify your idea of success. Passion is priceless. "success" and "wealth" are relative. Travel.
That's what I did (but for the Univ part as they had none back then).   I think I was 20- way back in the 70's. You will never be the same. Nor ever regret the enrichment. If you find it's not for you, you'll have some great stories to tell and the chicks dig it!I hope this helps. Regards.

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#17) On June 19, 2010 at 2:24 AM, MikeMark (30.22) wrote:

Life is short and important. This question is one that has two aspects to it. First, what would you like your profession to be and second, can your "calling" be your profession? These are tough life questions. No one can answer them but you.

Getting a degree you want and can afford is important. If you can't pay for your degree, that will chase you for a long time. In today's college atmosphere, make certain your degree will be needed.

Having said that, let me relate some of my experience.

I worked my way through college with jobs related to my degree. I have a degree in electrical engineering from 1988. I've worked for many different companies, and consulted for about 5 years after that. For me that's fun. It's also given me a good income. But for many family reasons, I'm now the President of a small log home company. From 2001 to 2008 things were great. Every day of 2009 included cost cutting and less interest from customers.

That's an extremely brief background that doesn't discuss the important people involved. Now for the meat of what you need:

First, spirit is what drives and guides you. Know thyself, know thine enemy.
Second, the people in your life are the most important. Without other people we have no humanity.
Third, your life's work or "calling" is not necessarily what you get paid to do. Daily enjoyment strengthens the soul.
Fourth, you must support yourself and those that depend upon you. Always require the greatest compensation that you can.

A well balanced life is difficult to achieve. Do it if you can.

Some books I highly recommend:

The Holy Bible (especially Proverbs and Matt, Mark, Luke, John)

7 Habbits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey

Don't Send a Resume, by Jeffrey Fox

Good luck in your decision!

-MikeMark

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#18) On June 19, 2010 at 2:36 AM, Starfirenv (< 20) wrote:


Xunantunich, Belize

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#19) On June 19, 2010 at 7:44 AM, outoffocus (24.55) wrote:

Well since you're digging on CPAs I guess I'll comment.  I didnt get my accounting degree because I wanted to sit in someones office crunching numbers all my life. I also didn't pick this field because "its pays alot".  I got my accounting degree because it was one of the few professions that provided me an avenue to entreprenuership.  Being a business owner was more important to me than working for someone all my life and I figured why spend $40k plus for degree that has me working a job for the rest of my life?

I also wanted to know how "money worked". I come from a background where the stock market was just something I heard about on the news. I had no idea what it was and why anyone cared. So I majored in Accounting and minored in Finance.  Combined with the rest of the Business curriculum I came out of college knowing more about business, finance, and economics than probably 75% of this country.  (Ignorance is bliss apparently)

The lesson to take from all this is when deciding your career path, you need to figure out what you like and whats important to you.  Don't worry about the money so much because if you are doing what you love and you are good at it, the money will come to you. 

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#20) On June 19, 2010 at 11:04 AM, TSIF (99.96) wrote:

Daniel, I agree with Starfirenv, that whatever you chose to do, that you will do it well. 

#14 I disagree  with the logic that 50% must do something well.  As you indicated, "well" is a relative term, but I believe it means more than just doing the job or getting things done.

I would agree that  anthropology and/or archeology may not be high paying jobs, but they could be with the proper amount of education.  They also generally require travel, which might not mix with a family, but then again, with the proper amount of education, you could be a professor or a scientist in the field and only go to the field for the prime, or selected finds. At some point you could take your kids with you on a travel.

To your original question, I would have to agree with majority.  Doing something you don't like for 30 years and then retiring early and pursuing something you do like is certainly one option, but your peak years for earning a salary and your peak years for spending time with a family are the first half. Do you want to go through those years somewhat bitter that you took a career path, where you will spend a large chunk of your time begruding what could have been,  and have that as a negative  feedback loop into your personal life?

Many people do so successfully.  Partially because they didn't have choices, or didn't know what they wanted to do until they were committed in a path.  It does work. I'm fortunate enough to have enough vacation that I can spend some time with family and I can still take off 2-3 weeks every other year or so and do some missions work that I enjoy.  I make the most of my vacations and I don't dwell on my day job, other than to do it the best I can.  There is a difference between being content in what you do, hating what you do, and loving what you do.  If you can't do what you love to do full time, but don't let it control you, and you make the most of the other time you have, then that's not a bad compromise. Being bitter in what you do, however, taking it home with you, and letting it control you is a completely different critter.

We place too much pressure on those leaving high school to make life decisions.  I would suggest that while you have developed some preferences and have some concepts, that without the real life experiences that it will be hard to say what you really would prefer to do in life at this stage. 

The first two years of college are a wash.  If you stay general and flexible you might end up needing an extra semester to get your BA, but you might have more direction in what you want by then. The extra semester of school might be worth it for the direction toward the remainder of your life.   If you are fortunate enough to get a Master's in series with a Bachelors then you'll have more flexibility in salary and in chosing a focus in any broad field that better aligns with your desires.  If not, a Master's is tough to obtain after you start a family, but many people do it successuflly.

Best wishes, and again, you will do well, and I mean that in the 95 percentile well, in whatever you try to do.  (99.x in CAPS).

TSIF 

 

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#21) On June 19, 2010 at 3:52 PM, RonChapmanJr (98.43) wrote:

Easy question.  :)  Do what you love. 

My undergraduate degree is from Harvard and I have 2 advanced degrees so I could be making a bunch of money somewhere, but instead I teach chess to kids because that's what I want to be doing.  Being excited to go to work is worth more than any high paying job can give you.

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#22) On June 19, 2010 at 9:46 PM, SockMarket (85.86) wrote:

David,

I am currently working as a programmer, and if it helps with the ladies...;)

seriously though that is good advice and I will certainly do my best no matter what I go into.

 

Star,

That is exceptional advice. I have been saving for a trip to see the redwoods and the hoh rainforest, but I think that those will probably be my next destinations. Thank you. If you have any more that come to mind let me know!

 

 MikeMark,

that is excellent advice as well. thank you. I think that you are right, knowing me is the most important. As for reading I will go for everything except the bible...

 

outoffocus,

that seems like a pretty good track, honestly. and good advice too. Thanks.  I can only hope the money really does come.

 

TSIF,

good thoughts thank you.

I did some looking and if I were to get a PHD I could probably work as a prof. at which point I would be able to rake in about $75K, which certainly is good, however I don't know that I could do that for some time after I get the PHD. 

Honestly I would like to go for being a field scientist but the average salary is about $50K. It isn't terrible, but it is about half of what I could make as a financial planner. 

I am quite lucky to have that option, and I think what you said makes sense, I certainly wouldn't be happy doing boring work for thirty years. 

At the same time I would like more than a few days here and there, and 2-3 weeks every couple of years to spend with my family. 

I will certainly do my best in life, although I don't know that it is essential to be great at everything, I don't think there is a problem with having some shortcomings or things that you can't do. As for CAPS: I'm coming! only another 1,500 points or so and Ill be in there. 

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#23) On June 19, 2010 at 10:24 PM, russiangambit (29.94) wrote:

> russ,

I am not really sure what you are saying since what I like isn't very safe. My apalogies if I wasn't clear but the finance option is safe while the archeology option isn't. 

----------------------------------

What I was trying to say is why only 2 options? Is there a 3rd, 4th option. I don't agree with simply doing what you love that many suggest. First and foremost , you have to be 100% sure that you'll be able to support your family and repay your college loans with whatever education you get. If archeology is not going to do that, then keepit as a hobby, learn it in your spare time. Out of the professions that meet that first requirement, pick the one you like the most  and do your best.

Most people have several things they like, not just one.  I personally like math, finance, chemistry, physics, history, philosophy, programming, foreign languages. I could be happy doing any of them . I absolutely hate law, biology and medicine. But if you are one of those rare people who have a drive for one and one thing only, then fine, go with it. But these people are rare, they achieve  a lot, but they usually have no family life to speak of, unless they meet a soul mate who shares their passion. 

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#24) On June 19, 2010 at 11:12 PM, SockMarket (85.86) wrote:

Ron,

That is pretty astounding. I think that makes quite a bit of sense. Thanks.

Just out of curriosity, how many moves ahead can you see?

 

Russ,

I have been saving since I was 5 and investing since I was 12. Between that, jobs, and family, I don't think I will have an issue paying for college and my debt should be pretty low (under 10K) and something I can pay off in the first year or two. If I go for the masters or PHD I will save the money before I go rather than taking out loans.

That said providing for a family is my biggest worry. I don't want to force my future (no I'm not engaged yet, but I would hope that I wouldn't have to wait very long after college) wife to work because I thought more of archeology, say, than her. 

I don't have any strong passion, which is probably a good thing since I want a family, and most of my hobbies aren't much for the financial end of things (woodworking, etc.) 

Another possability that I got from what you are saying is to combine hobbies and financial endeavors, maybe along the lines of a small side business in fnancal planning, or something along those lines that would take care of my finances but not leave me bored and upset.

Good thoughts, thanks. 

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#25) On June 21, 2010 at 8:12 AM, lemoneater (88.58) wrote:

Daniel, I wish you the best on whatever course you pursue. I will be praying that you make the right decision. I would say along with most of the replies above that money alone can never compensate for a job you don't enjoy. Starfirenv's suggestion to travel is a good one. I don't make a lot of money, but I enjoy my co-workers and get to see my husband frequently since he works nearby: two very important factors to me.

Salary should not be your first consideration. If you always spend less than you make, and save and invest what you can, you don't need to make 100,000 a year or even 60,000 a year unless you live in certain NYC or Chicago neighborhoods! Take care! 

 

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#26) On June 22, 2010 at 2:23 AM, SockMarket (85.86) wrote:

lemon,

you were one of the people I had in mind when I wrote this, so I am glad that you saw it!

I think what you say makes good sense (as usual). It is true that you can lower your costs, as basic as it is that slipped my mind. It is true that what you love ought to come before how much you make (or as said above, you will probably be bitter). And since money is (supposedly) an avenue to happiness giving up happiness to get money doesn't make much sense. 

I think this is the clincher, Archeology here I come!!!

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#27) On June 22, 2010 at 3:53 AM, Tastylunch (29.93) wrote:

Do what you love and you won't ever need to retire. No one in my family ever has. They just end up starting another business cause they get bored.

that being said, just make sure you make lots of contacts and deve;op a wide variety of skills in case for some reason your passion becomes no longer viable  or finances force you to do something else to keep afloat. 

It's sad but who you know really matters more than what you know a lot of times. Network network network.  If there's one piece of advice that schools really shortchange  their students on it's that.

I've had several friends in compsci fields end up in dire straits simply because they dindn't have a skillset that translated to anything else and didnt have the contacts to land somewhere....

Archeology is great stuff, I used to so some light field work in it. I think you'll be happy with your choice. Better people too, less high strung and less materialistic than IB types.

best of luck!

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#28) On June 22, 2010 at 12:58 PM, lemoneater (88.58) wrote:

Daniel, very glad that I could be helpful. Be sure to keep us posted on your progress. It is fulfilling to figure out what you were created to do. It is great to choose a profession which challenges you to continue learning your life long. I chose a husband who challenges me to keep learning and supports me in my goals for personal development. He is a born professor and I love to see him in action.

(I may just join you on a dig some day. I think that would be a great working-vacation idea:) All the best! God bless you! Lemon

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#29) On June 22, 2010 at 1:34 PM, Starfirenv (< 20) wrote:

Daniel- I'd be happy to help you put something together when you decide. I will follow this post and respond to any questions, or advise, whatever...
As for seeing the redwoods goes, You may want to look into Sequoia Nat'l Park. A sequoia is a "giant" redwood. Largest livivg thing on earth. There you will also see the highest mt. (Whitney) and deepest canyon (Kings) in the "lower 48" states.
Yosemite is "right next door".
As for the Archeo opportunities in Belize, it's HUGE and there are pyramids everywhere and I would bet less than 1% have been excavated. The Gov has realized the value of their Mayan herritage (and the largest coral reef in the northern hemisphere) to building a tourism industry and has been adding infrastructure to support it (roads, power etc.).
It's also pretty handy that English is the official language. Ck this out- I do mean EVERYWHERE.
http://www.belizepropertyagent.com/index.php/mystical-20-acres-in-armenia-village-hummingbird-highway/#more-56
I looked at this property last spring. The guy planted a cornfield on top. Again, good luck in whatever you decide and happy to help if needed. Regards.

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#30) On June 22, 2010 at 1:41 PM, tenmiles (99.92) wrote:

My advice is to consider career options you expect to provide real satisfaction when you reflect on your life a few decades down the line.  Maybe its because the job provides some “greater good” such as teaching;  maybe its just because you’re good at it.  If you have the luxury of time, youth and no major current financial commitments such as a young family, I wouldn’t spend ten minutes training for a field you don’t consider intrinsically satisfying.  That’s a disservice to yourself and society at large, since you are obviously bright enough to get into a good business school.

 

With the exception of certain highly technical fields – hats off to all you rocket scientists out there – I believe the vast majority of jobs can be mastered by those with an average degree of intelligence and persistence. Career stuff is rarely binary; if you make a choice you don’t like, or find yourself in a different place in life down the road, another option will open up, as long as your mind remains open. Your long term ability to succeed  in most professions is at least as much dependent upon your social IQ – how you read and treat others – than your native smarts. If you’re like many people, you may end up with 5-7 “jobs” during your working career.  Have fun, follow your heart, treat you co-workers with respect and the success and money will likely follow.

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#31) On June 22, 2010 at 1:47 PM, TMFUltraLong (99.96) wrote:

Become a professional sports gambler =)

You have to do what you love otherwise the money you make will not be enough to keep you happy, regardless of how much it is. I was a financial adviser at one point in my life... I thought that's what I wanted to do but I was sorely mistaken, or at least to the capacity that I was working for this particular financial company. Do what you like and the reward from that will far outweigh the short-term benefit that money might bring you.

Oh, and listen to whatever I say and build an UltraLong shrine, those are the keys to happiness and success =)

UltraLong

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#32) On June 22, 2010 at 1:56 PM, SockMarket (85.86) wrote:

TL,

Well, I don't know that I would never want to retire, I am not that much of a workaholic (and I really don't suffer from lazyness, I enjoy every minute of it :-) ). Besides, as I said above there are alot of things I want to do which you can't do when you are working.

As  for the networking and having a fallback I have already done that. I am working two jobs now, one of which I got through networking, and both in the field of web design, which I think would be a good fallback. (either that or finance).

That makes good sense about the people in archeology, I think I would enjoy them more...What did you work on when you did some work in this area?

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#33) On June 22, 2010 at 2:28 PM, SockMarket (85.86) wrote:

lemon,

Consider yourself (and your family) invited to some future dig! That would be pretty cool.

The decision should be made in the next few hours so I'll  try and post something, either on here or in a fresh blog, telling the result

 

Star,

That would be awesome! my current trip out west got cancled but I would still like to plan it! Even if i have to wait a year before I can carry it out.

The Sequias sound like a must, as do these pyramids! Whitney is great too. 

Belize looks, and sounds amazing. I don't have time for more now but I'll try to post something tonight.

 

tenmiles & UL

same goes for you guys, ill try to post something tonight. 

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#34) On June 22, 2010 at 8:58 PM, SockMarket (85.86) wrote:

Star,

Ok I have a bunch of Q's:

First off, do you think it is possible to do justice to the West Coast in 2 and 1/2 weeks? What is good to see up there? I am tempted to try it over winter break but I wonder if it is enough time, or if I should see the west in the rainy season.

I am assuming that the pyramids are a place where one would want to spend an entire summer (well really a couple years, but the summer is a good start). So what would you recommend down there?

Also I have heard of Chilean mummies, on the order of 6,000 years old. Is this true and is it something worth seeing?

I know little of Europe but once again would love to spend a couple months there, any recommendations?

Doing all this and still paying for college is a bit of a fantasy, so what would you recommend seeing first?

 

 

tenmiles,

that makes good sense, it is just so hard to figure out what your likes and dislikes will be in the future. Of course I do have some idea and I would tend to agree that training for something I don't like is a bad idea.

I always do my best socially, and I am pretty good, I think. So hopefully the money will follow, but we will have to see.

 

UL,

hey thanks for the advice (except the middle paragraph that sucked :-)  ). 

Seriously though that makes good sense. For a long time I wanted to be a financial planner and then I heard about all the salesmanship that went into it and decided to skip it. Further I enjoy poking around stocks and seeing what others are doing/thinking but I don't know that I could stand sitting :) there every day explaining to people why you should pay off the highest interest debt first, and why you shouldn't accumulate it in the first place.

If  money is an avenue to happiness I suppose that it doesnt make much sense to put off happiness to get money.

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#35) On June 23, 2010 at 7:02 PM, SockMarket (85.86) wrote:

Well folks, the decision is made, and the answer is located here:

http://caps.fool.com/Blogs/a-thank-you-to-caps-and-my/410567

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#36) On June 24, 2010 at 2:02 AM, Tastylunch (29.93) wrote:

danielthebear

<<<em>Well, I don't know that I would never want to retire, I am not that much of a workaholic

Yeah it's weird though, when you do something for 40-50 years and you like it, it becomes so much a part of you it can be hard to quit. If you like what you are doing, it probably won't feel like work at all.

you might feel differently about quiting when you are retirement age. Or you might not!

>>.As  for the networking and having a fallback I have already done that.

Cool! Why is the smart kids like you who don't actually need advice are the ones who end up asking for it? :)  Anyway glad to see you are staying flexible. You never know what field you may end up in.

>>What did you work on when you did some work in this area?

Not too much. My background is actually in geo. I did participate in a couple digs around bruial mounds in Ohio since I like the field and know that you can never have enough quality volunteers . But mainly I encountered artifacts when doing other fieldwork. Chipped arrowhead detritus is useful when trying to guesstimate what age of rock you are looking at. 

The best part about archeology and geology and other fields like it is the travel. :)

 

 

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#37) On June 24, 2010 at 3:48 AM, Starfirenv (< 20) wrote:

Daniel- $.02 and food for thought. OK. Q's 1-5.
1. West Coast- Absolutely. 2 days Sequoia. 3 days Yosemite. Maybe "waste" a day tooling thru the Mother Lode. A day at Tahoe (take the tram to High Camp at Squaw Valley). That leaves 10 days (less travel) time to head for the coast. Santa Cruz (beach, coastal redwood forests, boardwalk), Big Sur (banana slugs, redwood forests), Cannery Row (Steinbeck), SF (Steinhart Aquarium, Golden Gate Park, etc). but DEFINATELY SUMMER. Winter, you're snowed out of the parks. Then Think Coastal Santa Barbara and south coast..
2. Pyramids. Definately Winter, trust me. Took me 8 mos.to "do" So. Mexico, Guatamala and Belize. Lots of good stuff in Nat'l Geographic. Hated Mx Cty but the Nat'l Museo is world class. Olmec, Toltec, Aztec, Maya treasure trove. Highly rec Guatamala- Atitlan, Tikal, culture and "local color" beyond words. Belize!
3. Mummies. True. Predate anything from Egypt by 2000 yrs.
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photographers/photographer-johan-reinhard.html. This guy likes high alt. Interesting guy.
4.Europe. Never been. Would like to ski the Alps. Rather dive Cleopatra's Palace (Egypt) http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/05/25/divers-explore-ruins-cleopatras-palace/ or dive the coral gardens of the Red Sea.
5. Rec first. I don't know. You seem very focused on your new direction, so I want to say do something that will totally give perspective and revelence to your new path, but perhaps cultivating a sense of  confidence and calm in being a stranger in a strange land may be a better start at your age. You could hitch-hike the Trans-Can, stay in hostels and learn to be a traveler. I don't know you and that matters. Let me know.
Ck this out- http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/05/photogalleries/100520-ancient-maya-city-belize-science-pictures/#ancient-maya-city-belize-lidar-overall_20702_600x450.jpg 
Sorry about the delay. 9654 kram 3 at G mail
Regards.

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#38) On June 25, 2010 at 4:57 PM, miteycasey (96.52) wrote:

Depends on your the standard of life you want to live.

 

You can easily do something you love and not make much money, but don't expect to take 3 vacations a year, live in a McMansion, and drive a porche. 

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#39) On June 26, 2010 at 3:26 AM, SockMarket (85.86) wrote:

TL,

I have never met anyone who worked that long because they wanted to, but I suppose it is certainly possible.

That is quite true. I would fall asleep alot on the job if I spent my life writing websites but you never know. As for asking for help: we're the ones who are aware. Besides its nice to get confirmation from others :)

Travel is pretty awesome. I haven't gotten to do much for financial reasons but I am hoping that I can fund some more some time soon.

which brings me to.....

 

star,

thank you! This is awesome! It is a hitchikers guide to the world. 

 I am not sure I would go to SF, it is a very hard adjustment for a small-town boy (I tried NY and it was not good; although the life is great). But the rest is awesome. I might even stop off in WY along the way and see something there...oh wait there isn't anything in Wyoming :) (jk Yellowstone would be great to see)

South America and Europe both sound awesome. for never going you certainly have some good ideas! Seeing the red sea would be pretty cool (maybe I could find Moses' footprints :-) )

The stranger in a strange land is a good idea. It would certainly be a good change for me. I don't know that I can provide a good description of myself but I am very adventurous and will do quite a number of crazy/stupid things but, at the same time I hang out with a bunch of nerds (not that I am not one myself) so my soical skills could probably use some honing. 

All in all I think that is a very cool idea. My only worry would be gettting back in time for college if I do decide to push it on a vacation (other than summer). I suppose the pyramids are out for winter/spring break as they take too long, as is the W coast, but I am sure there is something close to me (CO) that I could see then.

 

mitey,

honestly the upper class lifestyle disgusts me. If someone handed me a check for $10m I think I would invest it and not make a move to change my life (except that I might retire or go back to school or something). I am very content with the middle class lifestyle. I have known it all my lfe and see no reason to change. 

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