I literally walked out of my job tonight, 4 hours into a 12hour shift. Eight years of hot hell with THE WORST co-workers, and the absolute most mis-managed company Ive ever worked for or heard of. Without going into details that would fill an ATLAS SHRUGGED sized book on how terrible this place is…let me say I simply had had enough, and literally almost ran out after saying goodbye to what few friends I had there.
So- now, Im gonna take a little while to try to rid myself of the utter hatred & rage I have in my heart & mind & soul for the place and most of the people there. Gonna take a short vacay…somewhere. Pull some triggers a few days. Then…get busy living again.
So- here is my situation:
Im 54. Former Marine. VA eligible for care. Served from '83 to '87. Ive got enough money to pay all bills for about 4-5 months IF needed.
Im recently single, no kids. No technical education…worked in factories for years and drove OTR for 13 years…WHICH ILL NEVER DO AGAIN…EVER.
Been continuously employed over 40 years…no lazy ass here. Everything Ive done as a young boy untill a couple hours ago has been hard, hot manual labor with long hours. Have NEVER worked an 8 hour job…hell I wouldnt know how to act on just 8 hours.
Im wanting to do something different. Something to maybe help others. Id like to learn a new trade in…something. Im so damned beat down I dont even know what would make me happy anymore. Id like to improve myself and make a difference and actually be proud of what I do for once.
What VA monetary aid is available to me for trade schools? Any other gov. help I could qualify for for aid whilst learning a new trade? What areas for someone my age would you guys recommend I look into. As of tonight- Im once again, for about the 4th time…starting my life over again…AND IM NOT SCARED. I feel the Lord has led me here and I know He will help me as long as I do my part-He always has.
Gents- Im open to your ideas. Im in Madison Al , an area EXPLODING with jobs, and I might indeed take one just to get some kinda income coming in…BUT I WANT BETTER THAN THAT…what I descibed above…to matter…to make a difference…to help others…to get better educated.
So, my brothers in arms: IM ALL EARS.
Thank yall for letting me vent.
I’ll be thinking of ideas…but let me be amongst the first to congratulate you. Life is too short to spend it doing things you hate, for people/a company you despise.
Others will no doubt know more about various programs that are available or whatever, but I’m a huge fan of stepping back, and changing your life. I do not believe that we have to fall into this “you’re however old and this is what you do, so this is what you’ll do forever” nonsense.
not sure what your liv situation is own rent etc… ?
I always lived in small places but I would look into some of the tiny home movement stuff ? if it could work 
if you own not sure what rental $ is like but rent your main place to make a bit and live very minimal and follow what you want to do
tiny home has some odd folks ? but some are OK it seems and just want to live more simple these days I think the overload of everything is getting to people
not sure how involved you are with churches ? but never to old to do mission work get some time away doing good etc… ya never know what that might open up ? since ya mentioned helping others
I have kids but my empty nest goal will be to have a few rentals a tiny home maybe or just a nice mobile home sprinter conversion etc… and just live with experience not things so much
hope things work out for ya soon as in figure out what your passion is follow it
edit to say I am 55 only time I had a job I had to have was when I was a kid my dad made me get a job learned I hated doing work for others and later in life bringing my wife into the country I hate immigration and they did not like what I did so I had to get a “Normal Job” for 3 years I freaking hate our gov workers like that !!! but I have always done what I wanted and never regret it
the old follow your passion work is work and it can kill some passions though ! but its worth doing IMHO
THANK YOU both so much. Very encouraging words indeed.
Honu- I currently rent. Its a bit too high, but lease isnt up util August. I too have looked into small, not tiny, but smaller places, as Im alone with no kids or pets. Yes, I fully intend to help at church more!!
Im just right now OVERWHELMED Im free of that damned place- and kinda excited at what possibilities are suggested here, and what I might find on my own. But- gonna lay low & quiet for a little while!
Good luck man, sorry things didn’t work out at your last job.
Are you open to relocation?
Here’s a thought, who are the competitors of your former employer and would you consider working for them?
Yes, actually gonna talk to a friend of mine out in around Tulsa, OK.
HA! Great idea- except no one does it around here & I want as far away from it as possible…hopefully not go back into a factory again…HOPEFULLY.
Gotcha. Well then make that veterans preference work for you. Find a nice .gov job where you get a desk, set hours and full benefits. You don’t need to have gone to med school to work as a health care worker for vets. Lot’s of “physical therapy assistant” kinds of positions.
Also don’t be afraid to take on management positions, and I’m not talking Burger King. Tell prospective employers that your last gig kept dangling a supervisory position but it never happened so you got fed up and walked.
Glad to hear you said F it to stress and left it behind. To many don’t have the means, will or balls too. Kudos.
I have thought of this too, similar age but like my job and make close to double what I could make elsewhere. But could loose my job in 6 months to a year due to company restructure.
Have you thought about the medical field? You want to help people maybe an x ray tech ? I think the schooling takes about a year.
Good luck, stay grounded with church and friends.
Congratulations on stepping out of hell! Life is too short and precious to waste on the abusive, stupid or ungrateful.
Talk to a community college counselor about jobs and training. They often have good relations with local trades and companies and training programs aligned with their needs. Many of the instructors are from those companies or retired from same. They also have a good idea where the jobs are and realistic pay expectations.
While the unionized trades may be difficult to get into at your age (just guessing) there are nonunion training programs for trades like mechanics. I know there is a dearth of commercial pilots. If you are in decent physical shape or can get into it the pilot schools cost about $30K, but some airlines will provide scholarships. Corporate shuttle pilots have a set route and pretty low stress job and make about $50k for copilot and $75 for aircraft captain.
Aircraft mechanics seem to have a pretty decent work environment and work around more professional people. Anything aviation is more professional and less BS than most other trade/labor jobs.
I would definitely consider downsizing every way possible. The less your fixed expenses the more choices you have.
Enjoy your new life!
Life is too short to spend that much time at a job you can’t stand, good for you!
Absolutely take a vacation and relax. Don’t even look for work for two weeks - other than some relaxed networking among friends.
I’m your neighbor, so to speak, and there is a lot of work in the area. You also are not tied down and free to move now.
If you are rated at 30% disability or more, the VA will pay for trade school or college. You could potentially apprentice in electrician, plummer, HVAC if that interests you; either residence or commercial.
Andy
Congrats! Sometimes jobs suck so much they leave no other option!
Not sure what your area in this field is like but how about medic. Last I remember schooling was like 6 months if part time. Obviously less if full time. Around here it doesn’t pay bad and it’s a foot in the door. Shifts vary depending on squad/department but even 12hr shifts are not constant work. It’s rewarding and you get to help people!
Is there anything in your Marine service that can directly translate to civilian job?
I walked away from a 10 year career in EMS last October. Sadly, I have zero skill set outside of that career field these days. Was just so fed up and stressed out. 24hr shifts, and only $12/hr just finally had me done. I’m not entirely sure I want to even look at other options in EMS or healthcare period. So far I’ve only found shit part time jobs. I’m trying to grow my gun business(hurray for growing it enough I can now be a forum dealer sponsor here!) so it can be my full time gig and just have a part time job for extra income.
Downsize as much as possible so you can take a job you enjoy even if it doesn’t pay well. I have a friend who is a park ranger at a local oceanfront national park. He spends his day on a fourwheeler warning beachgoers about riptides and jellyfish and telling campers to put their beer in a cup to keep out of trouble. He doesn’t make much but he loves the outdoors and meets plenty of women. Moral of this story… Find something that lets you be happy.
The Union trades will take you as an apprentice, at that age, by law they can’t discriminate because of age, I’ve seen apprentices in their late 40’s… (I’m a retired union pipefitter, with 32yrs in the trade) but, the problem is, at the OP’s age, due to his age, he’d never be able to get very much in the way of a pension. Sure, you could learn to weld, and hit the pipelines and make $150,000+ a year, but, in order to do that, you’re going to be working 7-12’s for months at a time, outside…rain, snow, whatever…Most likely working out of state, away from home… The pipeline contractors are all the same, they have a job to get done, and it needed to be done yesterday…You’d literally be jumping back into the frying pan… Looking back at the time I spent in the trade, sure, I had fun, and met an awful lot of good, honest people, and saw things that most people will never see. But there’s better ways of making a living…And, if I had to do it over, I would’nt…
I grew up outside of Tulsa, but make my home there now. It’s great area with numerous outdoor sporting opportunities available. Firearms friendly and a generally good job market. If you’re eligible for VA VocRehab, there’s a couple great tech schools in the area. Tulsa Tech has a great machining program and Oklahoma State University of Technology has numerous programs from oil & gas to construction and everything in between.
What have you done already? What jave you ruled out? What sort of salary are you looking for?
You said OTR, so that’s out.
You said generic labor … construction? Foundry? HVAC?
Personally, I’d take a month of salary and go around the world. School is in, so tourists are down and prices shiuld be cheaper.
Then come back, more relaxed and settled, and reeval where you want to be.
This^^^ Do a job that you love, and you’ll never work again, One’s mental health is much more important than how much you gross every year, The happiest day of my life was the last day of the last job I worked…It felt like a giant weight had been lifted off my shoulders, I walked away, and never looked back… OP, maybe take a week or two off, relax, catch up on some things around the house, and think about what you’d like to do for a change…
I always thought being CNC machinists was a cool sounding job, making things. I at one time thought being a gunsmith was a possibility, and CNC skills were kind of required. It’s indoors and I think it pays fairly well. Don’t know about training availability, and might be too factoryish for you.