Working as a professor was the best decision I ever made when it came to work.
Meep meepSpeaking of Santa Rosa, the best enchiladas I ever ate were at the Comet Drive-In about a half mile into town off the east I-40 exit. Grandma made 'em, and one of the prettiest girls I ever saw in my life---the owner's daughter---served them. Always with a smile.
There was an empty lot around the corner big enough for 18-wheelers, and when I came back from eating lunch one day was greeted by a friendly roadrunner. After taking a few pics I actually sat on the flatbed and talked to the little guy for a while.
Good times.
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PS --- Sanata Rosa is famous for one of the heaviest hail storms ever recorded:
There's something heroic about doing a job you don't like for 42 years, for the sake of family. I hope your retirement is pleasant and fulfillingI worked 42 years as a dentist, and hated it. I realized pretty early on that I wasn't going to grow to like it, but soon, family and responsibilities came along, and there's not much else one can do with a dental education. Yes, there were good days when things went well, but I found out early on that I didn't fit with a job dealing with sometimes stressed people very close up. I was careful to get good anesthesia, and offered nitrous oxide sedation free to anyone that wanted it, but still, I hated getting up in the morning. I made a decent living, and after I retired a few other dentists told me my patients loved me. But I hated it.
I worked 42 years as a dentist, and hated it. I realized pretty early on that I wasn't going to grow to like it, but soon, family and responsibilities came along, and there's not much else one can do with a dental education. Yes, there were good days when things went well, but I found out early on that I didn't fit with a job dealing with sometimes stressed people very close up. I was careful to get good anesthesia, and offered nitrous oxide sedation free to anyone that wanted it, but still, I hated getting up in the morning. I made a decent living, and after I retired a few other dentists told me my patients loved me. But I hated it.
Well, if anything, I was obsessed with not hurting people. Occasionally, it was inevitable, but those days were one of the reasons I hated it more than my patients.I have two friends that are dentists. They hate the job as well. They refer to themselves as pain merchants.
But they love the money and both work only 3 1/2 days a week.
I worked for 15 years in a small subsidiary of a major corporation with G and E in its title. We made electrical boxes, AC disconnects, transfer switches, ect. I was a fabricator who started as a temp and worked my way up to 3rd shift boss. Even as a supervisor I loved to run machines (presses from 5 ton to 600 ton, CNC punch presses and break presses) when I could. At the end of a shift I had a tangible reward; I had made "stuff" out of flat steel. Then big corporate bosses had the great idea to shift production to Mexico to save on labor and 5 years later the plant was shutdown. I still have dreams where I'm back running the equipment.
Last laugh was on them because that company so screwed up their production they no longer make electrical boxes anymore.
I'll say the mass layoffs have likely destroyed a lot of younger sentiment towards their employers in the corporate world. I think most even keel folks can understand layoffs when things are not going well, but you have a lot of companies doing very well and doing mass layoffs. They'll tell you in an all hands how positive things are going and then send out layoff emails the next day to "right size" for the future.Just rolled across this........
Younger workers feeling more detached from their jobs, Gallup says
Workplace engagement is on the decline among younger employees, a new Gallup report shows.katv.com