Tough Times in the Northwoods

[xcr440]

I know plenty, for a trade plumbing is pretty gravy work except for some digging that is usually reserved for young guys on crews. My good buddy is a CPA and his body is also wrecked from sitting on his *** all day. He has worked for several large factories and knows what people make. He said If he did life over again he would be a maintenance electrican.

I'm one of these sit on my ash all day computer programmers, but have to get up and walk away frequently or use my stand up desk to keep from being stiff and sore. However, I can put 200 miles on a sled for 10 days straight and not be one bit sore. I did the 5 year college thing in the 80's, as that was the thing to do then. I paid my way by cutting and selling firewood to all the suburbians with fireplaces, 1/2-1 chord at a time. It was GREAT money and GREAT exercise back then, especially with the wood being free, short of my time.

If I could do something else to make the money I make doing the computer work, I would in a heart beat. It would be hard to replace working from home as well. I'm sure there are things out there, but at this stage in my life (52) I'd be a fool to start busting my ash. I'll save it for riding time in the winter (30 days of PTO annually) and working on the car/truck/snowmobile/lawn mower/etc etc during the summer months......

 

[G]

Yes there will be more automation in the near future. But I think it will be a long time before we get an automated toilet-changer-outer. A lot of plumbing work could be considered custom work. Same with a lot of electrical work. Also most heating and cooling systems are one of a kind and would be tough to automate. There is always going to be a need for some hands on workers. And the less desirable the job the more it is going to pay. If I had to do it all over again I would sell insurance. You only have to pass a simple test. No degree required. Everybody needs insurance. Just about as bad as they need toilets.

 

[chunk06]

I'm one of these sit on my ash all day computer programmers, but have to get up and walk away frequently or use my stand up desk to keep from being stiff and sore. However, I can put 200 miles on a sled for 10 days straight and not be one bit sore. I did the 5 year college thing in the 80's, as that was the thing to do then. I paid my way by cutting and selling firewood to all the suburbians with fireplaces, 1/2-1 chord at a time. It was GREAT money and GREAT exercise back then, especially with the wood being free, short of my time.

If I could do something else to make the money I make doing the computer work, I would in a heart beat. It would be hard to replace working from home as well. I'm sure there are things out there, but at this stage in my life (52) I'd be a fool to start busting my ash. I'll save it for riding time in the winter (30 days of PTO annually) and working on the car/truck/snowmobile/lawn mower/etc etc during the summer months......

I would love to work from home, the only downfall would be that close by kitchen!

Yes there will be more automation in the near future. But I think it will be a long time before we get an automated toilet-changer-outer. A lot of plumbing work could be considered custom work. Same with a lot of electrical work. Also most heating and cooling systems are one of a kind and would be tough to automate. There is always going to be a need for some hands on workers. And the less desirable the job the more it is going to pay. If I had to do it all over again I would sell insurance. You only have to pass a simple test. No degree required. Everybody needs insurance. Just about as bad as they need toilets.

I agree on insurance. I occasionally do work for an agent that has done well for himself. The guy has a house down south and runs his office from there half the year.

 

[chords]

My Dad and I used to talk about how very few were learning a hands on trade. And wondered who was going to be there in the future to fix, repair, install, build, electricians, plumbers , hvac and so on. Things that couldn't be done sitting at a desk or from overseas. This would have been ~ early 90s. Right around the time college degrees were being pushed for a HS graduate. Its a shame that todays college grads start out their adult life in a deep hole of owing Tens of Thousand$ just to get a foot in the door to be a desk jockey.

 

[Admin]

Out of the 130 credit hours I graduated with, probably 25 of them were absolutely critical for me to take in order to do what I do. The rest were just various forms of hogwash treadmills that the instructors did not want to be instructing and the students did not want to be grinding through. If you can find a bigger waste of time and money, let me know.

College is really nothing more than a money maker, that is why they make it a challenge to graduate in 4 years. More time in college = more $.

These sentiments are shared by almost every recent college graduate I speak to these days as well.

Wanna be rich? Work smart, work hard, save and invest wisely. Personally, I don't think being rich is all it's cracked up to be. Being happy is where it's at.

-John

 

[dfattack]

Out of the 130 credit hours I graduated with, probably 25 of them were absolutely critical for me to take in order to do what I do. The rest were just various forms of hogwash treadmills that the instructors did not want to be instructing and the students did not want to be grinding through. If you can find a bigger waste of time and money, let me know.

College is really nothing more than a money maker, that is why they make it a challenge to graduate in 4 years. More time in college = more $.

These sentiments are shared by almost every recent college graduate I speak to these days as well.

Wanna be rich? Work smart, work hard, save and invest wisely. Personally, I don't think being rich is all it's cracked up to be. Being happy is where it's at.

-John

Totally agree with everything you said.

 

[Snirtdawg]

As John mentioned, most of college is a waste of time, but it accomplishes two things. It proves that you can live on your own, manage your time and play the game, which is exactly what your job career consists of. Secondly, without the degree instead of a hundred doors that can open for you, sixty of them are closed before you begin the game. I know as I have two boys in their mid to late twenties, one with and one without the sheepskin. Companies that I worked for HR would not let me even begin to look at job candidates without the degree. Sucks!! Once out, what you do is based on your accomplishments, good timing and ability to work well with others. You can make a great career in the trades today but at some point you have to be the one directing others to really make it payoff. This is coming from someone that is retired in my mid 50's and really happy to no longer have to play that game. On to better life games!

 

[byr 13]

Out of the 130 credit hours I graduated with, probably 25 of them were absolutely critical for me to take in order to do what I do. The rest were just various forms of hogwash treadmills that the instructors did not want to be instructing and the students did not want to be grinding through. If you can find a bigger waste of time and money, let me know.

College is really nothing more than a money maker, that is why they make it a challenge to graduate in 4 years. More time in college = more $.

These sentiments are shared by almost every recent college graduate I speak to these days as well.

Wanna be rich? Work smart, work hard, save and invest wisely. Personally, I don't think being rich is all it's cracked up to be. Being happy is where it's at.

-John

spot on !!!!!!!

 

[chords]

 

[lenny]

No this is completely false...my good friend is an accountant in the northwoods and handles the books for several businesses (bar/grills, restaurants..etc). Most just get buy, a few do good....slow winters hurt bad. Winter is NOT some kind of bonus..to say that is ridiculous..

I get a kick out of people coming up and saying “without us, you’d be out of business”. Now, Some business are tourism only so of course but that’s not representative of all. If you have good product, service labor and the proper business model, you should do well. If your a lodging business depending on sledders solely, that’s a different story. Management and vision are key.

 

[snoluver1]

You can make a great career in the trades today but at some point you have to be the one directing others to really make it payoff.

This was definitely true in the past, but I believe that is changing also. I currently make substantially more than my service managers/operations mangers, and have for quite a few years now. I also have WAY better retirement options. I have to work a lot harder for it, ( in my opinion) but I'm ok with that. Humans are not genetically programmed to be sedentary. (Again, in my opinion)

 

[Highflyer]

As John mentioned, most of college is a waste of time, but it accomplishes two things. It proves that you can live on your own, manage your time and play the game, which is exactly what your job career consists of. Secondly, without the degree instead of a hundred doors that can open for you, sixty of them are closed before you begin the game. I know as I have two boys in their mid to late twenties, one with and one without the sheepskin. Companies that I worked for HR would not let me even begin to look at job candidates without the degree. Sucks!! Once out, what you do is based on your accomplishments, good timing and ability to work well with others. You can make a great career in the trades today but at some point you have to be the one directing others to really make it payoff. This is coming from someone that is retired in my mid 50's and really happy to no longer have to play that game. On to better life games!

While I agree with most of what John said, I feel this post it sums it up best. College is more about the life experiences you learn along the way then what you actually learn in the classes. Your example about the two sons is perfect and while you will always find examples of people who didn’t go to college being successful, more times then not it will be like the case of your two sons.

However, college is not for everyone and I completely agree we need people in the trades. Probably my biggest knock on Obama was his admistration made everyone feel they had to go to college. They made it seems like if you went to college you would then be rich. Clearly not that easy.

 

[chords]

There is a lot of life's experiences to be learned along the way in the military, A 3 yr learning stint and I got paid. I never attended college but my DD214 was my diploma that helped me develop into a 25 yr hands on career in the telephony business.

 

[Highflyer]

There is a lot of life's experiences to be learned along the way in the military, A 3 yr learning stint and I got paid. I never attended college but my DD214 was my diploma that helped me develop into a 25 yr hands on career in the telephony business.

Completely agree with you. A different path then college but similar results if not better depending on ones life prior to the experience.

 

[indy_500]

Very interesting thread to follow so far. Dont want to leave much of my opinion on here as im only 23, just about 24 and have A LOT of life to go which could involve a lot of career changes. But, i chose the trades route and was given the opportunity to complete a machine tool apprenticeship as a CNC machinist. I didnt spend a single dime on education and got paid to sit there, granted i finished a 4 year program in 1.5 years because i was sick of sitting in class. I started off with 0 school debt, and was able to get ahead saving and was able to purchase my first home when I was 20 years old. At that time I had already started clearing $60k a year and its been going up slowly since (if i can keep getting my butt in early for OT LOL!). Keep in mind this is for northeast Wisconsin (wages vary a lot by area and are usually a lot higher around the WI/IL border). So far I'm very glad I took the route I did and try to urge any of my younger friends to stick to the trades also.

 

[snomoman]

You know guys, I think I'm going to rental out big hall central to everyone, invite everyone, have a couple of kegs of beer to loosen everybody up
then have a boxing ring for you'all to duke it out, heck I'll be the referee!
Honestly all I want to do is freggin snowmobile on the nicest smoothest trails that I can find to make this whole gig worthwhile

 

[LDF180]

As John mentioned, most of college is a waste of time, but it accomplishes two things. It proves that you can live on your own, manage your time and play the game, which is exactly what your job career consists of. Secondly, without the degree instead of a hundred doors that can open for you, sixty of them are closed before you begin the game. I know as I have two boys in their mid to late twenties, one with and one without the sheepskin. Companies that I worked for HR would not let me even begin to look at job candidates without the degree. Sucks!! Once out, what you do is based on your accomplishments, good timing and ability to work well with others. You can make a great career in the trades today but at some point you have to be the one directing others to really make it payoff. This is coming from someone that is retired in my mid 50's and really happy to no longer have to play that game. On to better life games!

Jumping back in, I'm with John and Snirtdawg. A good chunk of what I studied has absolutely no pertinence to what I do everyday. Just opens more doors.

Every day that I'm out on the factory floor, I think about how I would be a really good lead machinist. I would have saved a lot of money and probably be higher paid all things considered. Instead, i'm writing multi-million dollar CAPEX's to automate the jobs that guys like me would do very well. Way of the world, and I do think it sucks.

If I were to go back in time, I think I'd have been an electrician. Trust me, I pay electricians for capital projects, they are a lot better off than I am. Alas, it's too late for me now; I've carved my niche. Not bragging, but I know I'm really good at what I do and I work for a division of a Fortune 500 company and I can go anywhere. Just got to wait till those managerial jobs open up I guess.

Either way, please don't count us young guys out. We might have different ideas and backgrounds than the guys who run the game up North, but I want to help. Sorry I got so confrontational, I just want to friggin snowmobile. Guess I need to take that aggression out on a nice groomed trail instead!

BTW, I don't give a blank what anybody says, I like spending money at Northwood's bars and restaurants and so do all my buds. I hope the Norhtwood's bar system is around for my little guy to appreciate, that's all i really care about.

-LDF180

 

[LDF180]

You know guys, I think I'm going to rental out big hall central to everyone, invite everyone, have a couple of kegs of beer to loosen everybody up
then have a boxing ring for you'all to duke it out, heck I'll be the referee!
Honestly all I want to do is freggin snowmobile on the nicest smoothest trails that I can find to make this whole gig worthwhile

Im gonna plus one on this comment.

 

[euphoric1]

Administrator said it right "personally being rich isn't all its cracked up to be, being happy is where its at" and I could not agree with that more. I too am very good at what I do, 90% of which is self taught, I own a business, don't have a college education, have been doing what I do for 25 years, took the big step out on my own 5 years ago and I work 3 times as hard and make half as much. if it was about the money everyone would be doctors or lawyers. I was given the opportunity for tool and die about 10 years ago, company was going to send me to school, enrolled in apprentice program, I tried it and wasn't long in I hated it, financially I would have been better off sucking it up. I will never get rich doing what I do, I'm not college educated and sometimes have found myself educating engineers in my field that do have that fancy piece of paper that says they are smart, but that's ok every morning I get up for work I look forward to going to work, and I'm happy doing what I do and to me as I try to enstill in my millennial son.... that is what is most important. I just wanted to put my 2 cents worth in. Now lets hope we can all get riding soon!

 

[scoot]

Back on topic. Many of these old northwood businesses I can remember fondly as a kid back in the 70s. And they seemed old and antiquated back then, that was their charm. Ahh the smell of a wood burning stove and two stroke perfume on your clothing as you walk in... Now a days, when I see one, or what's left of one, I'll torture the wife by waxing nostalgic about these larger then life, great old Ma and Pa places with the flashing Schlitz or Old Style signs that were busy, regular stops back in the day. Many were built in the 20s and 30s to service hunters and fishermen. Sadly I've recently stopped at a few that were still standing just for old times sake. But musty, poorly lit interiors, sticky warped floors, or the smell of stale beer accumulated over many decades snap me back to reality.
Many have since been torn down or nature took them back over.