It has been a while since my first blog. It would seem that I still just have trouble putting my shit out there for others see. But there have been some big things happening that I thought I should throw out there (plus some friendly nagging from kindly strangers who think I should blog more). So heres the latest...
Today I was made redundant. Well I was told I will be in 3 months time. Yep. After 8 years working for the Australian Red Cross Blood Service it has been decided that the lab that I supervise, and 4 or 5 others, will be shut down and all our work centralised to Melbourne. All up about 70 people will lose their jobs. So thats pretty lame.
Its not all bad though. I will be getting a severance package worth a fair bit. And now I have a chance to do something new. But this is where I struggle. I am terrible at making decisions! I feel like I never have a solid opinion on what I want to do. Nothing really stands out to me as being Yes, this is what I need to do! And its the same all the important decisions in my life. From what I have read this is pretty common for people who have (or do) suffer from depression. And its something I really need to work through because I have some big decisions to make.
I need to decide what to do with the severance payout. I can be responsible, put the money into my mortgage then get a new job. It would pay off a nice chunk in one hit. Or should I take this as a one off chance to travel for a year or two in Africa and Europe? Then come back to Australia to worry about a job and mortgage.
The other big decision I need to make is about jobs and careers. Regardless of what I do with the severance money I will need to find a new job eventually. Im basically unqualified. I got trained up on the job and worked up to lab supervisor so I dont know how employable I am. The other option is to try something new. Im thinking of maybe taking up an electrical apprenticeship. I know apprentices get paid shit but we have a lot of mines that pay good money for people willing to work on a fly-in fly-out contract. I dont have a girlfriend or a family so I guess this kind of thing would work for me. Working in the middle of nowhere for 3 weeks on then come back the city for one week off...
Or I could learn the trade through the navy. The service period for a Marine Technician is only 4 years so its no longer than being a normal apprentice. Plus I you get paid reasonably and get to travel.
So they are my big decision. What to do immediately with my severance money; Travel or mortgage? Then what will I do after that? Electrical Apprenticeship on the mines or in the navy. Or maybe something else? Scuba diving instructor maybe..?
Its late, and you probably stopped reading a while back so Ill end the rant for now. Ill try not to leave it another 6 months before I blog again.
Thanks for listening
Today I was made redundant. Well I was told I will be in 3 months time. Yep. After 8 years working for the Australian Red Cross Blood Service it has been decided that the lab that I supervise, and 4 or 5 others, will be shut down and all our work centralised to Melbourne. All up about 70 people will lose their jobs. So thats pretty lame.
Its not all bad though. I will be getting a severance package worth a fair bit. And now I have a chance to do something new. But this is where I struggle. I am terrible at making decisions! I feel like I never have a solid opinion on what I want to do. Nothing really stands out to me as being Yes, this is what I need to do! And its the same all the important decisions in my life. From what I have read this is pretty common for people who have (or do) suffer from depression. And its something I really need to work through because I have some big decisions to make.
I need to decide what to do with the severance payout. I can be responsible, put the money into my mortgage then get a new job. It would pay off a nice chunk in one hit. Or should I take this as a one off chance to travel for a year or two in Africa and Europe? Then come back to Australia to worry about a job and mortgage.
The other big decision I need to make is about jobs and careers. Regardless of what I do with the severance money I will need to find a new job eventually. Im basically unqualified. I got trained up on the job and worked up to lab supervisor so I dont know how employable I am. The other option is to try something new. Im thinking of maybe taking up an electrical apprenticeship. I know apprentices get paid shit but we have a lot of mines that pay good money for people willing to work on a fly-in fly-out contract. I dont have a girlfriend or a family so I guess this kind of thing would work for me. Working in the middle of nowhere for 3 weeks on then come back the city for one week off...
Or I could learn the trade through the navy. The service period for a Marine Technician is only 4 years so its no longer than being a normal apprentice. Plus I you get paid reasonably and get to travel.
So they are my big decision. What to do immediately with my severance money; Travel or mortgage? Then what will I do after that? Electrical Apprenticeship on the mines or in the navy. Or maybe something else? Scuba diving instructor maybe..?
Its late, and you probably stopped reading a while back so Ill end the rant for now. Ill try not to leave it another 6 months before I blog again.
Thanks for listening
vivere:
I'm sorry to hear that! A lot of people I know have been in fear of losing their jobs and some just lost them so I know how tough it is. I think it is a great chance to start something totally new! I vote for either traveling or becoming a scuba diving instructor or both at once! If you travel and stick by large bodies of water, you could instruct for a couple of months in all sorts of different places! I'm pretty excited for you, to be honest. It sounds like you could have a really awesome adventure or at least a really cool new job. And if you travel, can you please stop by to visit the US so you can teach me how to scuba dive? I would love to learn! And please keep me updated on what happens and what decisions you make, trust yourself to know what you want out of life It will all be alright in the end, and if it isn't, then it isn't the end 
Best of luck!- Vivere
If you travel and stick by large bodies of water, you could instruct for a couple of months in all sorts of different places! I'm pretty excited for you, to be honest. It sounds like you could have a really awesome adventure or at least a really cool new job. And if you travel, can you please stop by to visit the US so you can teach me how to scuba dive? I would love to learn! And please keep me updated on what happens and what decisions you make, trust yourself to know what you want out of life It will all be alright in the end, and if it isn't, then it isn't the end Best of luck!- Vivere 
xbyookix:
I'm pretty keen on the diving instructor option. Its possibly my number 1 favourite thing to do. I'll be cycle touring Africa for most of 2013, so i'll lots of time to think it through. I'd love to come visit but you seem to live on entirely the wrong side of the continent I'll probably be going to the east coast (vancouver) in December and january. But the west coast is so far away. And aren't you land locked in Pennsylvania? So you'll need to come visit me to dive
I'll probably be going to the east coast (vancouver) in December and january. But the west coast is so far away. And aren't you land locked in Pennsylvania? So you'll need to come visit me to dive