Many of you know that I quit working about a year ago because of health issues. I've been working hard to get better and making progress but still have a long way to go. I exercise, I eat like the doctors tell me to eat, I have at least two physicals a month and go to the hospital at least once a month for an MRI, CAT scan, or whatever they tell me to do. I am making slow progress but it's two steps forward one step back progress.
So, I spend 20-25 hours a week with activities directly related to improving my health. I have plenty to do with the rest of my time and make it a point to stay as busy and productive as possible. My buddy says it's a shame I'm wasting my talent and that I should find the right job to satisfy my creative drive. So I looked for "Audio Engineers" jobs in my neck of the woods and this company came up on my radar. https://www.resonado.com/ I sent a query explaining why I wanted to work there. I was explicit about needing an outlet for my creative energy and that I would not work a McJob (I actually used that word). I also said I had serious health problems, visual and aural impairment, and would need a lot of time off to go to the doctor etc, and that I couldn't drive.
They got back to me within 90 minutes and want me to visit their corporate office in Chicago for an interview. I'm going to go but I don't know if I really have the energy to keep this up long term. Quite frankly I could drop dead at any time. On the other hand I guess I don't have much to lose any more. I'm not even sure I can commit to this. I do feel much better than a year ago (every waking moment was agony gasping for breath) and my fitness has improved a whole lot.
So what would you guys do? Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks.
So, I spend 20-25 hours a week with activities directly related to improving my health. I have plenty to do with the rest of my time and make it a point to stay as busy and productive as possible. My buddy says it's a shame I'm wasting my talent and that I should find the right job to satisfy my creative drive. So I looked for "Audio Engineers" jobs in my neck of the woods and this company came up on my radar. https://www.resonado.com/ I sent a query explaining why I wanted to work there. I was explicit about needing an outlet for my creative energy and that I would not work a McJob (I actually used that word). I also said I had serious health problems, visual and aural impairment, and would need a lot of time off to go to the doctor etc, and that I couldn't drive.
They got back to me within 90 minutes and want me to visit their corporate office in Chicago for an interview. I'm going to go but I don't know if I really have the energy to keep this up long term. Quite frankly I could drop dead at any time. On the other hand I guess I don't have much to lose any more. I'm not even sure I can commit to this. I do feel much better than a year ago (every waking moment was agony gasping for breath) and my fitness has improved a whole lot.
So what would you guys do? Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks.
You might consider looking into being some type of consultant? It's usually less stressful and involved IME.
Good on them for getting back to you though! A lot of places I've dealt with would avoid hiring someone with health issues like the plague.
I was even turned down for a job at a record store because I had had cancer (which was successfully treated) in the past.
Good on them for getting back to you though! A lot of places I've dealt with would avoid hiring someone with health issues like the plague.
I was even turned down for a job at a record store because I had had cancer (which was successfully treated) in the past.
For a job at a record store? What the hell do they care?
I already do consulting and I don't want a lot of commuting to wear me out. OTOH I do want access to their facilities.
We'll see what happens.
I already do consulting and I don't want a lot of commuting to wear me out. OTOH I do want access to their facilities.
We'll see what happens.
It seems this company is looking to hire a lot of people in the Chicago area. It's hard to find employees now, and while hiring an old geezer like me isn't scraping the bottom of the barrel (I bring a whole lot to the table of course), corporate egghead types much prefer to hire 30ish white male drones that aren't too smart. Just a few years ago being over 50 was the kiss of death for a job seeker and with health problems you had less than zero chance of being hired.
I guess times have changed. Plus having an older worker with disabilities can even give them bragging rights; it can highlight just how politically correct they are.
I guess times have changed. Plus having an older worker with disabilities can even give them bragging rights; it can highlight just how politically correct they are.
After spending over 40+ years in a sometimes stressful job professionally fixing and restoring other people's broken audio/video crap, and managing the shop, I decided to retire.
I had enough of it, I did my job, and did it well.
I got 5-star reviews, plenty of satisfied customers, my work was done.
Now I enjoy the slower pace of life, and "putter around" at my home workshop on projects geared towards myself, both to keep my soldering station warmed up, and brain healthy.
It's relaxing.
Healthwise, for my age (69) I'm in decent shape, with a few age-related things going on, to be expected.
But I'm not about to encourage those things to get worse by slaving over stuff as in the past.
This time is "all about me" now.
I want to enjoy the time left.
I had enough of it, I did my job, and did it well.
I got 5-star reviews, plenty of satisfied customers, my work was done.
Now I enjoy the slower pace of life, and "putter around" at my home workshop on projects geared towards myself, both to keep my soldering station warmed up, and brain healthy.
It's relaxing.
Healthwise, for my age (69) I'm in decent shape, with a few age-related things going on, to be expected.
But I'm not about to encourage those things to get worse by slaving over stuff as in the past.
This time is "all about me" now.
I want to enjoy the time left.
This is my overarching motivation behind everything now.
I really enjoy puttering too, and I'm good at it. I enjoy teaching my buddy how to fix cars.
I just like to stay busy.
Oh, I've got my nicely equipped basement servicing bench, stocked shelves of parts brought home when I closed the shop.
And a garage all set up with power tools for woodworking, machining, etc.
So I'll never get bored.
Teaching your friends and young people sounds like a nice idea. You can teach people how to work creatively and developed skills. They might evening teach you something.
Do what feels right. HeyBill
Do what feels right. HeyBill
I was wondering where you live, Wiseoldtech. Do you live in the city or suburbs? I saw Philly up close about 15 years ago, and it looked like a garbage dump full of crackheads. I did not see a single building or piece of property that was not thoroughly dilapidated. Quite frankly, I was shocked. I could not imagine living in one of those run down, filthy rowhouses with thugs right outside my door.
I live in Chicago (actually north shore suburb) and there's nothing even close to that. There was about 30 years ago but it's all gone and most "bad" neighborhoods here have undergone or are undergoing gentrification.
Is any part of the city nice? I stayed in the suburbs when I was there and it was pretty nice. Is the city a lost cause? I've seen videos of the Kensington district and it makes me absolutely furious to see those drug addict parasites shi-ting up people's businesses and homes. I don't know how anyone can tolerate that in their neighborhood.
I live in Chicago (actually north shore suburb) and there's nothing even close to that. There was about 30 years ago but it's all gone and most "bad" neighborhoods here have undergone or are undergoing gentrification.
Is any part of the city nice? I stayed in the suburbs when I was there and it was pretty nice. Is the city a lost cause? I've seen videos of the Kensington district and it makes me absolutely furious to see those drug addict parasites shi-ting up people's businesses and homes. I don't know how anyone can tolerate that in their neighborhood.
I live comfortably in the Mayfair neighborhood in a 3br Airlite row.
I own, it's paid off, no real issues of the neighborhood - it's relatively quiet, clean, respectable. - we affectionately call it "The Northeast Suburb"
Unlike some other neighborhoods (that you mentioned) that went down the toilet.
Of course, naturally, crime and blight happen, and even in my hood a rare occasional incident happens.
Some of us around here installed alarms and security cameras/DVR's, I did in 2016, it comes in handy IF something happens.
And there's always that 2nd Ammendment instrument tucked safely away, just in case I should ever need it.
I own, it's paid off, no real issues of the neighborhood - it's relatively quiet, clean, respectable. - we affectionately call it "The Northeast Suburb"
Unlike some other neighborhoods (that you mentioned) that went down the toilet.
Of course, naturally, crime and blight happen, and even in my hood a rare occasional incident happens.
Some of us around here installed alarms and security cameras/DVR's, I did in 2016, it comes in handy IF something happens.
And there's always that 2nd Ammendment instrument tucked safely away, just in case I should ever need it.
Interesting, thanks.
I've seen neighborhoods in Chicago turn around so fast it shocked me. Whole ghettos have been demolished and gleaming upscale neighborhoods spring right up. You know what they say about money talking.
Even most of the "bad" neighborhoods look really nice here now. The city has enforced building codes hard and with punitive taxation and fines have forced slumlords and unethical property speculators to use it or lose it. Basically now either a building has to be occupied or else you have to tear it down. This policy has greatly improved the city.
Even Englewood, the notorious heart of the cutthroats, is now experiencing a mad runup in real estate values. People have been moving out for 50 years but now they're moving back. Once upon a time it was the "Irish Gold Coast." My father grew up in Englewood, he saw the horrible racial strife right in his front yard (so did I for that matter) and he told me one day that Englewood is never coming back. Well he's been dead for over ten years now and now it's hot stuff again.
I've seen neighborhoods in Chicago turn around so fast it shocked me. Whole ghettos have been demolished and gleaming upscale neighborhoods spring right up. You know what they say about money talking.
Even most of the "bad" neighborhoods look really nice here now. The city has enforced building codes hard and with punitive taxation and fines have forced slumlords and unethical property speculators to use it or lose it. Basically now either a building has to be occupied or else you have to tear it down. This policy has greatly improved the city.
Even Englewood, the notorious heart of the cutthroats, is now experiencing a mad runup in real estate values. People have been moving out for 50 years but now they're moving back. Once upon a time it was the "Irish Gold Coast." My father grew up in Englewood, he saw the horrible racial strife right in his front yard (so did I for that matter) and he told me one day that Englewood is never coming back. Well he's been dead for over ten years now and now it's hot stuff again.
When I think of Chicago, I still think of Cabrini-Green...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrini–Green_Homes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrini–Green_Homes
Look at this.https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Englewood_Chicago_IL
Still some bargains, but some of the houses have a pretty high asking price.
$70K for a gut rehab in a neighborhood with a terrible reputation for violent crime sounds pretty steep to me. $300K+ for a new rehab in same neighborhood seems insane. But hey, money talks and what do I know? Last I checked my house was worth around $370K and it's a nice house in an excellent area. Maybe I better check again.
Still some bargains, but some of the houses have a pretty high asking price.
$70K for a gut rehab in a neighborhood with a terrible reputation for violent crime sounds pretty steep to me. $300K+ for a new rehab in same neighborhood seems insane. But hey, money talks and what do I know? Last I checked my house was worth around $370K and it's a nice house in an excellent area. Maybe I better check again.
Have a look at the cost of places in my neighbourhood! 70k for empty land would be a steal here.
https://www.realtor.ca/map#ZoomLevel=18&Center=43.712912,-79.393407&LatitudeMax=43.71527&LongitudeMax=-79.38739&LatitudeMin=43.71055&LongitudeMin=-79.39943&Sort=6-D&PropertyTypeGroupID=1&PropertySearchTypeId=1&TransactionTypeId=2&Currency=CAD
I can walk to this house: It's "only" 27 million dollars...
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/...-rd-toronto-bridle-path-sunnybrook-york-mills
EDIT: No, I'm not even remotely wealthy. I rent an apartment that I couldn't afford to live in if I was new to the building.
https://www.realtor.ca/map#ZoomLevel=18&Center=43.712912,-79.393407&LatitudeMax=43.71527&LongitudeMax=-79.38739&LatitudeMin=43.71055&LongitudeMin=-79.39943&Sort=6-D&PropertyTypeGroupID=1&PropertySearchTypeId=1&TransactionTypeId=2&Currency=CAD
I can walk to this house: It's "only" 27 million dollars...
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/...-rd-toronto-bridle-path-sunnybrook-york-mills
EDIT: No, I'm not even remotely wealthy. I rent an apartment that I couldn't afford to live in if I was new to the building.
Have you seen it lately? The Towers of Doom are long gone and the real estate is worth an obscene fortune. It's totally upscale now.
Here's the neighborhood now. When I was a kid you entered this area under threat of death.