Quit the rat race.

Good for you. Peace and tranquility is worth more than any job can provide.

Unfortunately, it doesn't pay as much.

Richard

I've been there myself.

I worked as a systems administrator for several years. The only time people would notice me was when a server was down. It really beat down on me to have my only acknowledgment ever be negative.

I shifted to work on the other side, and now develop web applications. Seeing a well designed website, getting compliments from users, and seeing high sales numbers for selling our online product give me positive reinforcement each day. Even though I was great at being a sys admin, I couldn't go back to it. Ever. Not now when I know what a better work environment is like!

Is that 35 years? The comma threw me.

Thirty five years of anything can begin to wear on a person, I'm sure. (Okay, I have, like no experience since I'm one uv them youngins') but I do believe that happiness is crucial in daily life. Hopefully you enjoyed what you were doing at least most that time.

And best wishes in finding something else that makes you happy. My hubby really likes having a job that doesn't come home with him-- ever. It doesn't pay a lot, but he enjoys where he works and at the end of the day, he's done. He punches out and does something else.

Consider what sort of work environment you want, is my advice. That and as I tell my students-- every job will have something that sucks. Some people don't realize this and once they find that sucky thing, they hop to a new job. (Obviously, you're not in that boat really, but it's something to keep in mind.) It's all a matter of what you can live with and what you can't. Good luck!

My first lover was a teacher. His doctor gave him two options: die of complications from high blood pressure or quit.

Clair Dickson said:

Is that 35 years? The comma threw me.

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On the other side of the pond, commas serve the function of points in numbers.

1.000.000.000,00 = 1,000,000,000.00

So 3.5.

A friend of mine quit his teaching job. Best decision he'd ever made, he said. He now works in the film industry -- his first love.

I quit corporate a few years ago. Don't regret it. The money was nice, but life is more than that. I now do what I'd like to do (or at least work toward that goal) and I don't think I would go back to corporate any time soon (see my sig).

Bartholomew said:

On the other side of the pond, commas serve the function of points in numbers.

1.000.000.000,00 = 1,000,000,000.00

So 3.5.

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We do? I have never seen this before. I would write it the second way.

Seaclusion said:

Good for you. Peace and tranquility is worth more than any job can provide.

Unfortunately, it doesn't pay as much.

Richard

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When money is just paper - we'll have won the war. Do your part - invest in bonds. James Bond.


I quit the rat race; I'm looking to quit it even further. Good luck to you.

Famous Uniqueism:

''You can always get more money, you can never get more time.''

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KTC said:

I don't sweat things like this. I live my life in the hours outside of the office.

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Me, too. Plus, I use the money I make at my day job to fund my writing habit...

In my senior year of high school, three or four teachers suffered a nervous breakdown in front of the classroom and I heard most of my teachers retired and this was their final year... you could noticed, actually. Since most of them either couldn't take it anymore or just didn't care...

I haven't checked out your site, but I am assuming you are a writer. How about an online editing job? Curriculum development? Even online grading for standarized tests.

Frodo said:

My teaching job consumed my life and after 3,5 years I decided I had enough and quit. Now I am searching for a new career that can promise less stress and higher satisfaction. Research show that I am not alone.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1551244/Millions-want-to-quit-the-rat-race.html

Anyone with suggestions or want to share experiences?

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So are you looking at alpaca farms? Just to save you some time...think Hair Sheep.

Link doesn't work for me. What are you thinking of doing Frodo?

Three and a half years? Why so long?

It only took me one term to realize that my tact and patience had absolutely no place in the teaching profession.

Frodo said:

Job satisfaction means a lot!

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Making money, putting food on the table, and keeping a roof over my family's head means more.

mscelina said:

...my tact and patience ....

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