brute has been fantasizing that some type of contractor/carpenter job might be fun for a while. or maybe mechanic. not as a career, but to keep busy, learn a few cool skills.
Brute dislikes people. 'guess what a money-making carpenter's most important soft skill is?
The thing about craft is that you learn all the important things from other people. You cannot learn from a book, and you will probably not figure all the good things out on your own.
Carpentry is very rewarding for two months at a time. Then the increasing amount of dealing with insulation gets to you and The Suck really starts to set in again...
Another of my fantasy lifestyle jobs is a long-term house sitting gig in some nice place 'up in the hills' with a pool, a nice view, good roads to bike on, super attractive neighbors, etc.
I imagine that if you get a good "in" with some people with either really nice houses or houses in really nice places, this could be a regular thing.
I didn't even think of mentioning it, but this is 100 percent doable, and very easy. Well, there are fewer long term gigs around, but they are out there. We turn down gigs all the time (this morning even) now that our profile is attractive due to almost 20 positive reviews from happy home owners. Once my citizenship is obtained, we are going to float around the world this way.
'guess what a money-making carpenter's most important soft skill is?
that's why brute doesn't imagine this as a career, where he needs to make money off of it. more like a lowly paid (since unskilled) vacation.
I wholeheartedly think you should give real carpentry a go. Come back and tell us how you liked it. Maybe the construction sites around you aren't cesspits of stupid like they often are here. 'fingers crossed 'cause I think your lack of tolerance for idiots is going to put a dent in how much fun construction is going to be for you.
Building shit would be freaking awesome if it wasn't for all the morons!
Another of my fantasy lifestyle jobs is a long-term house sitting gig in some nice place 'up in the hills' with a pool, a nice view, good roads to bike on, super attractive neighbors, etc.
I imagine that if you get a good "in" with some people with either really nice houses or houses in really nice places, this could be a regular thing.
I didn't even think of mentioning it, but this is 100 percent doable, and very easy. Well, there are fewer long term gigs around, but they are out there. We turn down gigs all the time (this morning even) now that our profile is attractive due to almost 20 positive reviews from happy home owners. Once my citizenship is obtained, we are going to float around the world this way.
Is there a specific site for this kind of job offers?
Thanks
I was under the impression that "housesitting" is really a misnomer. Petsitting is the more correct term. If it is petsitting I am not interested (there is a reason I have no pets), but I would be happy to housesit.
Can someone who does housesitting clarify what the job actually entails?
@c40 Hope you're not calling me a job policeman. I suggested it here !!
@realperson True, almost every home comes with a pet. It can be a pleasure if you choose wisely. In terms of what housesitting entails, if you avoid nutjobs, it really just means turning up, keeping the pet alive, and making sure the house is really clean when they get back and that the specified house plants are also alive.
Owners may have elaborate manuals, but to be honest I don't read them. Sometimes they say the pet can't be left alone for more than say 4 hours (red flag + ignore), or that you must perform any number of slave like tasks (red flag), or that you must maintain a huge garden (red flag unless love that shit), or walk the precious animal 5 times a day (red flag + ignore).
Over time you get better at filtering out the duds. We have had over 20 sits and in that time we have had one nasty bit of work (Englishwoman in France), and a couple of relatively harmless nutjobs. We have also met some lovely people.
Last edited by Did on Wed May 31, 2017 1:15 am, edited 2 times in total.
I was under the impression that "housesitting" is really a misnomer. Petsitting is the more correct term. If it is petsitting I am not interested (there is a reason I have no pets), but I would be happy to housesit.
Can someone who does housesitting clarify what the job actually entails?
It depends
Some are give my diabetic cat 12 shots a day and others are feed my outdoor dog daily and feed the chickens. Personally chill with "country " tasks and not touching any needy pet and owner pair.
Others are just be there just sitting.
Really depends on what you enjoy doing as a part time gig. I've seen some early retirees work in computer stores because they love talking to people about electronics.