Meritocracy is the rule of the ocean, especially in the impact zone. That and camaraderie and looking out for your fellow man ( and woman and children). That and who can talk the best smack. Anything else is just dust in the wind. I've learned the best of life's lessons from 1. my Dad 2. my Wife 3. In The Surf. It's all good. If you win, you win. If you lose, you still win! Just get wet and let it all sort itself out. Jobs and women come and go. The Ocean is. And will be. I hate work, love life and live to surf. That's what I do. That and piss people off. #surfpunklifeforever #mywavebabygobacktothevalleyanddontcomebackkook
Location is important. At the risk of repeating myself, I consider myself fortunate for not having the distance to the beach challenge. We live 15 miles from the beach, and the Navy facility where I work (Dam Neck) is right on the water. So although I currently have a job that may not be my first choice and is perhaps less than inspiring, when I look at the big picture, I don't have a lot to complain about. Besides, surfin' helps make it all tolerable. I admire you guys who can maintain the stoke despite a 2-4 hour drive to the beach. I don't know how you keep it going. Since I was 13, when my family moved from Ohio to CA, I've lived and worked within 15 miles of the saltwater. Never considered living elsewhere. My wife feels the same way. Sure, I enjoy the deserts, mountains, lakes, and rivers - but just to visit. One has to decide what is important. That will vary over the years as one goes through the different stages of life: single, married, raising a family, retirement. My free/off-duty time and lifestyle were important to me and considerations while looking for employment after leaving the Navy. It wasn't entirely about money. I'd be making a lot more than I am now if it had been my priority. Although the opportunity (with significantly higher pay) presented itself a number of times, I didn't want to live and work in the Wash. DC area. Moved from SoCalif to VA Beach in 1997 for a variety of reasons. Wanted the four seasons. Wanted my four kids to have the opportunity to see their grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles in central NY at least once a year. Couldn't afford that if we lived in CA. Of course, we had to be within a half hour from the ocean. And there had to be medical services for our special needs daughter. The job turned out to be better than the one I had in CA. I was working on the waterfront and on the ships, not stuck behind a desk. Also, the Navy paid for the move. That certainly helped. Eight years later, I took my current job at Dam Neck. The old axiom "Nothing ventured, nothing gained", holds true.
I'm still in the process of paying off the last remaining debts which won't be long then time to save enough to move 2hrs East and get a new job. Hopefully will have a job lined up beforehand but if we get enough cash together we can do it before and then roll the dice finding something once moved in. Gotta do it, 10 years with this company, not getting any more satisfying as the days go on, i'm willing to take less money to live near my favorite break and surf every day there are waves. I won't need much once that happens. If we keep expenses low, we can still have a great lifestyle. This is the goal, and it will be accomplished...
I use the SL cam for adjacent Croatan/Pendelton to give me a general idea of the conditions. But can't rely on cams alone.
I live about a mile from the beach and can see Assateague island from my front yard. In order to move we had to cash out everything we had in NJ money and stretch to buy land here. My wife still commutes back to NJ 3 days a week to run her business and I started a business down here over 10 years ago. We just did it without knowing how it would play out. Our parents thought we were crazy, I mean who just sells everything and moves to a place where they don't know anybody with zero job prospects? That's what they were saying to us as we were selling everything. I hated the idea of staying where I didn't want to be, where I couldn't afford a decent piece of realestate without a hord of people surrounding me. I figured it would be better to be poor and happy rather than make more money and be miserable. Everything worked out after all. I've made a bunch of good friends, surf every day there are waves, have a beautiful house and most important am happy. Take a risk and go where your heart draws you, if you work hard it will work out and you'll be happy. Don't sit it out and hope it will get better,20 years will pass and you'll wonder where the time went.
Wow, there were some zippy posts here. Beautiful. ZaGaffer and Singer Island Dog of Surf, you guys are just brilliant. Zippy, that was touching and inspirational. You may have just changed my life. Well, given me the incentive to make a certain decision. If I succeed I will give you some credit. If I fail, well, then I'm coming down to Assateauge Island, and there will be some sodomy going down. If I can get a ride down there, that is.....Ha. SUPERFISH !!! Me and SUPERFISH used to be best friends. God, how I miss those days. How's the police beat going, dude? You wear your vest everyday, right? Good. Good. I love you SUPERFISH. I always will.
of course billy. "Weatherman said it's gonna rain, but you never know know." Hope the Southside is swell.
that must have scarred you for life...not particularly the best conditions for viewing, and must have made a bad first impression...the more i imagine the context the more my gag reflex is acting up... and your moms was there...
every year, around this time, another forum member loses their **** and decides they hate everything. How many have actually given up everything to chase what they believe in? Everyone talks about it, few actually do it.
Wow I feel like this thread was like me 11 years ago. Single guy, adrenaline junky climber working in the car industry in Mi. who got got tired of the same old ****! Ya I'm still paying for my loans! F Sally Mae, and ya wonder why perfessionals who went to college hate their jobs now. Sure there are such stances and reasons for this why people get stuck where they are. Families n such move many people to this situation. My questions are this! Can one be happier with less $$$$$? How much money does one need to be happy or get the bills paid? Can ya enjoy it, if you are working 60 hrs. a week and can't spend it or enjoy it with your family? With good people around ones self, anything can get done! Good luck n don't be afraid.
sometimes when you lose, you actually win. and sometimes when you win, you actually tie. this dude Billy had a girl who told me this back when we lived in Venice. sh!t was great back in the early 90s. but always dodging the Stookie Brothers.....
If you want to make real money (and money in this world = freedom, don't let anyone BS you different) then go to work for yourself.
I feel like there needs to be a meeting of the vb chapter of swellinfo where we will determine how to make my life better and I can surf more. Success will earn you divdends and public intoxication or whatever you are into as long as it's heterosexual in nature and involves no unmarked white vans.
get a job with the gov't, and use the copious amounts of time off to surf (which in turn keeps you sane from having to deal with all the gov't bs in the first place)
There needs to be some surf in order to surf. Last week wasn't very good; this week will be no better, if not worse. We're in sort of a coastal cul-de-sac here. Gotta take it day to day. I've found that here you can't rely on surfing alone to make your life better. Too many flat spells. Need to find another outlet or pursuit. Found an announcement in today's VA Pilot Beacon for VB EMS Marine Rescue Team. They're looking for volunteers to be trained as a coxswains, boat crew members, Jet Ski or ATV operators for water rescue operations. Don't have to be an EMT but must be able to swim 100 yds. and tread water for 15 min. Contact 757-385-1999. Told my son about it.
Govt jobs are for the brain dead, unmotivated, lazy, ignorant masses who want to feed off the public teat. Or, you could get a job driving the white van of molestation. Same damn thing.
