Do I take the plunge?

Sounds like a good gig and would look good on a resume. You're outside dude, take it.(this coming from someone who's worked outside in a variety of weather/seasons). State job, you're providing a good service, not at a desk. I say take it.

 

If the pay works for it, do it. If you are on the road a lot, there is nothing wrong with keeping a short board with you for a lunch break if you know what I mean. But honestly, put work first. You may miss a few winter days with the lack of daylight, but all in all, with a quick lunch session, evening and weekends, you will be fine. Now, if you already lived in HI or CA, that changes things, because there will be waves all the time, and it will affect you mentally. But living in VA or anywhere in this area, it's not like you will be missing day after day of surf.

If the pay and benefits work for you, go for it, but you can make just as much money doing other things with a much more flexible schedule. Depends on how old you are and where you are in life. I did the 9-5 things for about 6 months when i moved to the west coast and then I bailed on it, because I was literally missing too many waves. I could see the ocean and the surf from my office window and it just eventually broke me.

I am doing the 9-5 thing right now and I have not missed one day of surf this whole year. If there is swell, I make it. On work days, some sessions are short, but hey, better than nothing....

But that decision is on you. good luck... Ohh, and get those loans deferred my man.

All that said, you sound pretty uncertain. If you dream is to go to CA or HI, why are you waiting 3 years? I have a bias opinion on this particular field, but you can stack more than 32K bartending or serving in a busy place and not miss one day of surf ever. Stack your cash, save up 5K and hit the road in a few months. There are enough of us on here with west coast and HI connects that someone could throw u a bone once you get there. At least get you some face time with a decent employer.

 

Probably 22ish based on his college loan comment.

 

right?
also, any babies?

 

I say go for it. Like seldom said it'll be on your resume and get you good experience that you can carry over into another job. And like Zach said, depends on how old you are. Life's short and don't get many opportunities. If it's more feasible to get this job, earn some experience and cash, do it. Save that money up and then start applying for similar jobs on the west coast or down in hawaii. And take it from me, it's not fun working at a desk, if you're going to be outside all day go for it. And helping the environment is a major plus.

 

Is this the career route you want to go down or just the first job you've been offered out of school? If it's not something that you want to put your time in for and pay your dues to keep your career progressing, then don't do it. It's very easy now to get sucked down a career path these days and not so easy to transition into something else. Employers want specialization and are fell less willing to train someone if it's not an entry-level gig. Don't just jump at the first offer you get out of school if it's going to be just a paycheck for you and nothing else.

 

Disclaimer: Anything is possible. But in my experiences, sometimes to get what you REALLY want, you have to take the opportunity when it's there. Every day that goes by, every month that goes by, there are a TON of variables in life that will come your way. I can't tell how many guys I grew up with surfing all said the same things as you. The goal is to go somewhere else with waves. Whether that is Hawaii, California or wherever... And over the months and the years, mistakes were made, babies were born, jobs were taking, girlfriends turned into wives or baby mommas... And out of the whole pack, I was the only one that did it. I graduated, worked a 9-5 everyday for 4 months and bartended 7 nights a week, when I had about 7K stacked up, I put in my two weeks and the rest was history. I convinved one friend of mine to move out too. Set him up with a room at a friends crib, got him a job. He lasted almost 2 years before he ran out of money and hope and went back east with his tail between his legs. Everyone else that had that dream is exactly where I left them almost 15 years ago.......

Not saying you CANT do it, but every day that goes by that you are not WHERE you want be and not DOING what you want to be doing is wasted time. You can't get these days, months and years back. Age creeps up. Responsibility creeps up and before you know it, your dreams of living in a distant land and surfing great waves everyday will be that, just a dream. You don't want to be the all too common guy saying, well maybe when im 50. Maybe when the kids grow up. Maybe when we retire. Cause when you have weak knees, a bad back and 3 kids all in different places, that dream may never happen....

You sound like a surf stoked adult grom. If working 9-5 doesn't SOUND appealing, it probably won't be no matter how you slice it.

Why follow your dreams in 3 years when there is nothing stopping you today.

And just a little tip. It is damn near impossible to land jobs remotely. Never tried the HI thing, but EVERYONE I talked to said, come see us when you get here. Transplants are COMPLETELY unreliable. So, you are really going to have to spot your landing, go and figure things out when you get there. There are dozens of "temp" companies in California and believe it or not, they have some really solid gigs that pay well. In the early 2000s I took a job right when I got there move computers around with a fork lift for $20 an hour.

Go young man. Go now and never look back.

 

As somebody who periodically hires college grads at a large corporation, I would encourage you to take any job that puts significant work experience on your resume. That will put you ahead of a fair number of people when you look for your next job. Your 20's won't last forever. Enjoy yourself but recognize there's a long game to play as well.

 

Are you guys hiring? Whereaboots is your company?

 

Well, that kind of changes everything. Family comes first. Especially your mom. But you also have to be realistic in your expectations with family. Not so much with your mom, but with your brothers. My wife has 2 brothers and a sister. Ages ranging from 21-27. For almost a decade now, all of her siblings have had "personal issues" of one kind or another. And to this date, they still have the same "issues". Her parents have been raising one of their grandkids. Both her mom and dad feel like they can't leave, because without them, the 3 kids would fall to the wayside.

I don't know what all the details are, and there is no need to share really, but I respect the fact that you are putting family first, but don't let it poison the well water. ya know? There will come a time when you have to do you. And I try and always find the good in people, but some things never change. Meaning, your family will probably go through what they go through whether you are there or not.

My wife's family has owns a home down on Hilton Head in our neighborhood. It just sits there empty. I use their garage for extra storage. They are still stuck up in Bmore because of their adult children. Each day I try and figure out a way to get them down here, because it is there dream to live here, not there. And it's a shame that they have that family situation that holds them back...

Regardless of what happens. Good luck with you and your family. I know when I was 22 I had just completely the roughest stretch of my life. I felt like if I didn't pack my bags and go where I needed to go that I would be stuck there forever. My GF, now wife came with me and she was WAY more family oriented and the first 5 years we lived there, I kid you not, we flew home 7 different times a year and stayed with our families. So you CAN have both..... it just costs a nice chunk of change.

I hope everything works out for you. Just remember, you can't live other peoples lives for them, even family. You can help them all you can, which is admirable, but at some point, birdies gotta fly and the 757surfer has to surf.

 

ok. my .02. take the job; rack up like 2/3 yrs experience; resign; re-invent self as super-feral indo-charger
for 6 mos; re-enter field (w/experience); move up ladder, repeat same over and over til women/babies/
tragedies/lottery winning change your life.

 

speaking of babies...man if you don't have any of those it changes the whole game...

 

Listen to Zach, words of wisdom and experience speaking. You never know what tomorrow holds or if we will even have a tomorrow. You can use today for good or you can waste it. It's important what you DO because you're exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, today will be lost forever leaving in it's place whatever you traded for it. I know you love your family, as I'm sure all of us here do. But this is YOUR life and it's up to you to make your own choices, and I can promise you they all aren't going to be easy ones. But make some choices that are well worth it. I can speak from experience too, years ago I was in your same boat between a job and an idea to get out of here. The more time that has gone on the more responsibilities I've gain, it seems like that dream surf life is slowly moving away. I wish I would have found a job that offered the same experience as the one you have the opportunity to take right now. While you might not be able to get a job before you get there (nothings impossible though), take the job, work hard for a year or two and stash away as much cash as you can and then when you have just enough to go, GO! Find a cheap place to stay at first, job hunt like a mad man, land a job and go from there. It won't be easy leaving home and family, but honesty as I'm sure everyone here will agree with me, there is no worse regret than the regret of not knowing what could have been...

 

Go for it. Its experience and money. Plus you could still surf. Summer time won't be an issue at all, just dawn patrol, winter time sessions will get shorter but you will still find time to be out there.

I'm in a similar situation. I'm going to school for the second time and working right now. I'm 25. Some times I'm up at 5 to surf, straight to class, straight to work, get maybe 4 hours sleep than do it again. Its a long day but it's the only time I can get in. I type this from school with a SB in my truck to give it a check after class before work. Though I don't expect much. Still gotta check

As far as moving, you got to do what feels right. And it seems like moving right now dosn't feel right, so why not take the job? Like zach said you could get a job bartending or serving (Im a server) out west and have it made for your age. But if that's not in the cards this seems like a great choice

 

32k???? Haha!?!

 

Go for it. At this point, you have nothing to lose. A month from now, if you change your mind, a 2 weeks notice is all you need brother. Don't stress it. If this is the best thing for you today. Live for today. Surf often, save more. And as the head of household, spend this time preparing your siblings for the realities of life. Help them get to work. Work on them contributing to the family. Soften the blow of your absence, so you can rest a little easier when you are no longer there.

And if you every want to live in a place with medicore waves but great weather, wildlife and warm water, holla atcha boy. Wouldn't be the first time I have helped employ a fellow surfer. It's no Hawaii, but its certainly a dope place to live and surf.