I need a new job (long, windy, and whiney)
 

As some of you know I've been working on my house and working on other people's houses and construction projects for a while. I've acomplished a lot, I'm told. I've crossed a lot off my lists and there is still a lot more to do. Lot lot more. It doesn't feel like I've done all that much when I look ahead, and looking back doesn't give me that delicious afterglow of satisfaction that it once did. (Now there's a job well done.)

I'm feeling a bit crispy around the edges, not setting of the smoke detector yet, but I can feel it coming. A panicked "is something cooking?" kind of feeling.

I've been throttling back and taking more time out with the family and friends. I actually finally got sick after living with Captain Phlegm Junior and his darling mom, both of whom would send typhoid Mary scurrying for cover. Months without so much as a sniffle from me, despite CPJ drinking out of my cup and or sharing my grilled cheese sandwiches.

A week ago I got one of my patented bronchial "do you double dog dare me to become pneumonia?" chest colds.

So, in the midst of all this I recently began feeling "what the fuck? what the fucking fuck?"

I have not been working for pay enough since I am working on getting my house wrapped up. If I go back to work and let the house ride a while I make between $25 and $35 and hour swinging a hammer. It's not so bad when it is for someone else, but still I get that "how the fuck am I gonna make it through this day?" feeling at times.

I'm thinking the money's probably pretty good, the work is lately ON, though it can also be OFF. Sometimes, I have to turn work down since it often all comes at the same time and I don't like having multiple jobs open. Other times I have to turn work down since it is just me and it can be hard to find minions.

I have lately been thinking about going back to photography, the only other thing that I can do which would pay decently (1500-2500/day) It is rare to work everyday unless you are in a metro area. We are not, unlikely that I could bring in that kind of dough for a while, it would be complicated starting up a photo biz in my area and it would mean long hours away from family and a large investment in new gear since my non digital gear is effectively obsolete.

I've thought of going back to baking since I really loved that work (25 years ago) but I don't think I can survive on what that pays unless I owned the shop.

I'm feeling physically beaten up by the carpentry and frankly, I'm not the best carpenter on the block. I'm pretty good and can do delicate, refined work very well, but the general rough framing, I'm not quick and often make just plain dumb mistakes. comparitively, as a photographer I could shoot a few hundred sheets of film in a day, a few dozen set ups and not make any mistakes. I could do it drunk or hungover or half asleep.

I'm wondering if I should do a cash out refi and hire a bunch of carpenters to come and get the house done in a few weeks. Probably cost me 20 thousand bucks. Or I just keep on plugging away and it costs me 2 thousand bucks.

I'm feeling all midlife crisis like.

Check the 'fridge for a red check list.

I'm only half kidding, really. Check with SWMBO, see how she feels about not having the house "finished" for awhile. Usable, functional, but not finished, in that causes the most marital problems in remodeling/restoring a home.

Once you are in agreement on the options, then you can consider the future. Why waste time mulling unacceptable(to her, therefore to you) choices? ;)

a large investment in new gear since my non digital gear is effectively obsolete.
Say it Ain't SOO !! Foots is thinking about going DIGI ,
mister " I ONLY SHOOT BLACK AND WHITE !!!"
Just messing with you Foots , follow your heart Brother , follow your heart !!!!
I like what I do , and I can do it drunk or sober , but I feel burned out as well sometimes , then something new comes along to throw my self into ( me to my boss on the cell " Please STOP calling every 15 minets , I am figuering this out and you are distracting me , every thing is going good , I will call you if I need any thing , and yes I will give you updates thru the day" )

I agree with Bruce , get with SWMBO and talk about this , she may have some insite .

I'm pretty good and can do delicate, refined work very well, but the general rough framing, I'm not quick and often make just plain dumb mistakes.

Every body has things they are better at than others , don't sweat it , USE IT !!! Trim man , cabnet dude , door frame man ,,, what ever !!!

home inspection can be lucrative, and utilizes both knowledge of photography and construction.

carpentry may be more satisfying in the short run, but your body pays the price, and limits the length of your career. can't you do both, while a photography business grows?

I'd piggy back what zippy mentioned, there are nicer lower intensity construction gigs out there. When I tried the electrician thing years ago I couldn't do the pace. We know you've got a serious gift for photography, that may be what you need to do. I'd talk to the Mrs. You may get relief if you put a clock on it. Say you give yourself 3 more months on the house and thats it no more but finish work here and there. You need to figure out what you can do that allows you to be present in your work rather than lost in it. Timber framing gives me that buzz but I get it in the classroom in a different way. good luck bro, I've been there.

Excellent idea LJ. The guy we had do our home before we bought gave us a binder with all of the pics, recommendations for the small fixes etc. We LOVED it, since as we have made improvements/fixes, we have a visual record of what the house was like when we bought, and what it's like now. It will be especially useful when we sell. We already decided he will do our end inspection before we sell.

WOM of realtors and satified homeoners like us, gets you jobs, and by going into lots of homes, you could get small side carpentry jobs by offering the homeowners your services on things that you'd like to do on the side. You could totally work on your own schedule, and I don't believe the classes to become a certified inspector are too expensive or time consuming.

Definately talk it over with the better half and since she knows you best, maybe she'll have some input.

When my hubby was at the same point in his grocery retail depatmental managers position ~6 years ago he ran the ideas of types of things he'd like to do by me, and the one that I knew he'd be great at IS one he's now very successful (and usually happy) at.

Good Luck!!

What about doing remodeling estimates and designs? I believe there is s/w for taking the now image and transforming (also can be done in Photoshop) it into a visualisation of what the remodel will look like and how much it will cost. That could combine the photo skills with your remodeling experience.

If you think seriously about going into the home inspection practice, go to the Breaktime forums at Taunton's Fine Homebuilding website. Pose the question there. There are a few inspectors that frequent that site, and there are a few carpenters who've made the same transition there as well. They could be helpful.

Why don't you find a carpenter who is fairly good w/ the framing bit and work together w/ him? That way there will prolly be less mistakes, make things easier on you and won't cost as much as hirering a bunch of other carpenters to finish for you.
I agree w/ the other posters that you should specialize in one area of carpentry rather then tryin to do it all...you can do a better job that way. Or if you don't think that that will satisfy you, jump into photography or whatever else you're contemplating it. But the most important thing is to discuss your feelings w/ your SO.

2 word Foot ,
Food Porn !!!

Don't minimize this part. I'm screwing around with sheetrock and guess what? My wrist isn't making it.

Hate to be a wet blanket, but it gets worse. :(

typed a long response to Griff and hit alt + % and it all disappeared.

oh well, in other news I have spoken to my neighbor about home inspections and I will be looking into that after xmas etc.

Good luck man - Hope it works out for ya.

Did you try ctrl + z ? Dork that I am, I only just learned this trick.