woberto Report This Comment
Date: July 21, 2024 12:27AM

Coincidentally I have just started a Government job this year (financial year, so like 3 weeks ago).
I took it for the regular paycheck, the RDO's and the fucken obscene superannuation.
You can email me at [email protected] if you want to know more.

But seriously, contracting pays well although it is hit and miss, you can go months without work.
I did alright installing and training on SAP ordering systems over the last 3-4 years, for NT Government and some of the big mining guys in the north of Australia and PNG. I got into that because the printing industry has shrunk dramatically since 2000 and all my contacts are "retired" now, so I would not even know how to approach the big companies that are left (most were bought out by overseas interests).

I live in the country now and see moo cows every day on my drive to work. If I get in to work early enough there are kangaroos grazing on the lawns. Can't complain but being me I will find something sooner or later. I can "retire early" in ten years time and will be sitting pretty if I can stick with this NSW Government job, but in my experience old men need to keep busy or they just die. So I have ten years to find a part time gig or a hobby that doesn't involve shouting at the cloud(s).

/sincerity

pulse Report This Comment
Date: July 21, 2024 05:35AM

I'd never been out of work but after ~20 years I took a perm role around 7 years ago. Decided like you the regular paycheque was probably more important.

I reckon there's 5 years left in the industry. We'll see how that works out. I won't be able to retire at that point so .. shrug? I'll move to Europe, buy a campervan and slowly burn my super

During covid lockdowns we lived at my in-laws place in regional VIC. I just.. honestly, I hated it. I can't imagine the life of seeing cows every day long term. I was so crushingly bored. Hell, they filmed parts of Mad Max there for a reason.

I just got home from taking the dog for a walk, stopped for a pint at a local, walked along the beach, and headed back. All within a few km of home. I can't imagine trading that; except for maybe living overseas again.

Italy sounds nice.

woberto Report This Comment
Date: July 22, 2024 06:27AM

Happy to live in a small town with 7 pubs (only 5 are still open) and zero craft beers.

pulse Report This Comment
Date: July 22, 2024 07:21AM

I don't mind an occasional IPA. Prefer a Guinness but I'll take it.

Prefer wine though, and country town pub wine selection....

woberto Report This Comment
Date: July 22, 2024 07:32AM

It's close to Mudgee so the house wines are pretty good.

pulse Report This Comment
Date: July 22, 2024 08:14AM

I had to look that up. I legitimately had no idea where it was.

I know fuck all about NSW though. I've been to Sydney a number of times. And ... Albury

woberto Report This Comment
Date: July 22, 2024 09:52AM

Ahem. It's Albury–Wodonga to you Mexicans please.

pulse Report This Comment
Date: July 22, 2024 10:10AM

And hillbillies prefer to be called sons of the soil, but it ain't gonna happen.

Anon - not logged in Report This Comment
Date: July 23, 2024 04:26AM

That means you're near me woberto.

Mrkim Report This Comment
Date: August 17, 2024 02:29AM

'berto, I'm back in the printing game, such as it is, or for as long as it lasts, at this point.

Workin on a circa '72 Goss Community printin ours as well as some other local papers and runnin the insert machine. We all know it's a dying trade but at this point I'll just ride this puppy till they close the doors and then finally retire.

Bein raised a city boy I used to say I'd never live in the country ... until I did. Now the necessary forays into the sprawling mass of humanity that once was my home are more than enough to remind me as to why I choose to never live there again.

I live about 4 miles outside a quaint lil burb of 1941 souls, many of whom are farmers. My closest neighbors are about 100yds(30 meters) away, have cattle about another 100yds away, corn, millet and cotton farms all around out here and the solitude suits me.

I'll be here till I ain't

woberto Report This Comment
Date: August 28, 2024 05:14AM

I doubt there are any Goss's left down under.
There was a Goss Urbanite in Sydney that printed the Trading Post, that's the only one I have every seen up close, about 30 years ago.