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Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:Call me unpatriotic but I have no earthly desire to join the military. The idea of a bunch of random people determining my fate in what literally could be life or death for myself or others for causes that I probably don't give a crap about is a risk I just don't want. I'll stick to reckless activities/jobs of my choosing. I know it's a "good option" but i don't even know if I could kill somebody if it came down to it.

Not trying to argue with you or to push you into such. Just want to point out that there are non-combat medical careers in the military that will never require you to lift a hand or weapon against a fellow human.
I do understand about not wanting to become a piece of property that is owned by the state and it is a real good reasonto not join if you feel it would be an issue.

I can appreciate that the government is "looking out" for it's people, but I can also appreciate that it's looking at it's own self interests too. I've heard a lot of good stories and a lot of bad ones which makes it hard to trust at all. Got a few friends who did a medical route and came back really messed up so it kind of scares me :( Anyone else care to weigh in on this?

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:I can appreciate that the government is "looking out" for it's people, but I can also appreciate that it's looking at it's own self interests too. I've heard a lot of good stories and a lot of bad ones which makes it hard to trust at all. Got a few friends who did a medical route and came back really messed up so it kind of scares me :( Anyone else care to weigh in on this?

I did four years in the USMC and I wouldn't say it was bad at all. It set me up with some fat cash for college and the VA Loan is fething awesome.

I went to a lot of cool places and made some really great friends. It's hard, but worth it. Interestingly, I myself went to Iraq and so did a lot of people I know and I wouldn't describe any of them as coming back "messed up." At least no more messed up than before we went. To be honest, I didn't think Iraq was all that bad. Compared to 29 Palms, CA at least.

I lived in Washington state for a few years and had the oppurtunity to go up to Alaska to work on a Salmon boat and that kind of work does pay well but it's not just easy money. I don't know what kind of fishing industry they have down in Texas (probably shrimp or tuna).

But as was said above you do have to pay to get yourself there and while you can get good money from it it also depends on if you meet your ships quota plus it's very hard work. I mean it's not to the level of Deadliest Catch but it can get intense. And with fishing companies losing money due to this oil spill in the gulf it might be hard to find that kind of job right now. If you want you can try it but I just want to give you a freindly warning not to put all your hope in that if your interested in it but it can still be worth it.

Also you could look into being a survey taker, yeah it's not the most exciting job but they usually pay well and all you need is a vehicle. They give you gas money to.

Hope things get better for ya

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:I can appreciate that the government is "looking out" for it's people, but I can also appreciate that it's looking at it's own self interests too. I've heard a lot of good stories and a lot of bad ones which makes it hard to trust at all. Got a few friends who did a medical route and came back really messed up so it kind of scares me :( Anyone else care to weigh in on this?

If you aren't interested in the military, then either Americorps or the Peace Corps may interest you. Its nowhere near as profitable, but they will give you some money for college on exit from the program; though the amount varies according to which program you're in. Americorps will allow you maintain a greater degree of freedom, in most cases, while the Peace Corps is very regimented.

maybe the salvation army could help you. I'm looking for other options. wish I could do more.

Cannerus if you're in Texas then surely there's gotta be a cattle drive somewhere you can hire yourself to help out in...


Srsly, though...if you've paid taxes then you've earned your piece of the action, so start signing up.

Maybe take a look at the Coast Guard? Big presence in the Gulf there...

Yes, if you can get on unemployment do it.
Hopefully talking to your family will get you some results. Keep us updated, and good luck.

dogma wrote:

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:I can appreciate that the government is "looking out" for it's people, but I can also appreciate that it's looking at it's own self interests too. I've heard a lot of good stories and a lot of bad ones which makes it hard to trust at all. Got a few friends who did a medical route and came back really messed up so it kind of scares me :( Anyone else care to weigh in on this?

If you aren't interested in the military, then either Americorps or the Peace Corps may interest you. Its nowhere near as profitable, but they will give you some money for college on exit from the program; though the amount varies according to which program you're in. Americorps will allow you maintain a greater degree of freedom, in most cases, while the Peace Corps is very regimented.

I looked into Americorps a while back and had a hard time finding any solid opportunities, so I stuck with school instead. It certainly isn't a sure thing but when you have no other options you may as well take a look into it. I wouldn't invest too heavily in the concept of guaranteed support, it is worth the look though. This page is a good starting point.

Another thing.

What are the application deadline dates for members?
There are two deadline dates, one for the fall cycle (which typically falls on April 1st) and one for the winter cycle (which typically falls on July 1st). However, members are encouraged to apply early, because selection is continuous and the class may be filled before the application deadline date. Sometimes these deadlines may be extended. Please refer to My AmeriCorps for accurate listings.

About the Peace Corps, which I never really looked too far into.

Serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer means 27 months of hard work. It takes determination, flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor. And while applying to the Peace Corps is easier than being a Volunteer, the qualities that make a good Volunteer will also come in handy during the application process. Yes, applying to become a Volunteer takes some time, preparation, and effort. But as with volunteering, the rewards far outweigh the difficulties.

That is an absolutely massive commitment.

Look into programs like these while trying to not rely on them as opportunities. If you don't have enough food to eat and are eligible, get food stamps. If you are eligible for unemployment (and I actually doubt you are Cannerus, as you currently have some level of employment), get it. Relying on friends and family will put a consistent strain on your relationships unless you happen to have a REALLY cool personal safety net, which I would call something more along the lines of a trampoline.

Good luck though, don't let the dark days get you down.

Wrexasaur wrote:
That is an absolutely massive commitment.

Its also not the easiest thing in the world to get into, as they have enough applicants to be fairly selective.

I have been there before. I was lucky enough to be in the pacific NW where the weather is tolerable yet livable year round, if a bit rainy. What I learned was first, that lots of people who are on streets are not crazy but just also in unfortunate circumstances. You need friends, and you need a base. We slept under a bridge and used the city park in downtown Portland as a living room where people could know where to find us.

You got a car? good. Use it as your storage unit. Find things like the Salvation Army, they have lists of free food places like church feeds and such, they also have lists of potential jobs, cheap housing, and other such stuff available. If you use their services, throw in some time volunteering in their kitchen too. They notice. It opens a lot of doors for potential future employment, or even just referances and contacts.

The more people you get to know, the better off you will be. Use the public library for computers, keep a backpack with your absolute essentials like a blanket, change of clothes, a book, notebook, phone numbers, etc. on you wherever you go.

Things that are your friends: backpack, blanket, extra clothes, toilet paper (or napkins, whatever), a water bottle, and a good knowledge of the area you are staking out to stay so that you can always have a backup squat if the cops start harrassing you at your site.

Trust me on all of the above I spent 3 years homeless while I was waiting for my I.D. to finally get processed (immigrant, this gak takes time for those bastards).

Make friends with 'houseys' as well as with the train-hopping 'kids' and transient hippie types as best as you can. A housey is good for a shower and you can wash your clothes in a bathtub, and maybe get a decent nights sleep on a couch when you absolutely need one (like the night before a job interview for instance.)

transient hippie types often know the best free-food places, or, like we used to do, the best dumpsters behind restaurants to find free food that just got thrown out. One of the best is food courts at malls, where people never finish their stuff and just leave it there.

Hold your head up high. If my punk little ass could make it all those years I'm sure you can make it until a paycheck or two. Just gotta stay smart, alert, and not feel too down on yourself, as well as finding out who you can use as a resource. Again, a couple of housie friends, community outreach places like soup kitchens, sally army, city missions (just remember to get them back by volunteering a bit... its a karma thing).

Good luck. my thoughts and luck go with you on this adventure.