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Adulthood; When the hell did that happen?
Topic Started: Apr 9 2011, 06:12 PM (6,378 Views)
Aelius
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Norman Warlord
New Harumf
Nov 13 2013, 12:53 PM
Rhadamanthus
Nov 12 2013, 07:07 PM
Nag Ehgoeg
Nov 12 2013, 05:39 PM
As I sit here, in my Superman pyjamas, watching my 108" TV, I do wonder...

Is this adulthood?

Spoiler: click to toggle
Ideally, yes.
Damn, I hope so! Only difference is I sit naked!!
:wtf:
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Tristan da Cunha
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Science and Industry
New Harumf
Oct 25 2013, 10:58 AM
Ulgania
Oct 23 2013, 06:48 PM
This seems appropriate.

I realized the body of work I put into this place can't be shaken off so easily. You guys did something weird to my brain wiring and now I'm back - a little.

These days I'm a proper digital marketer with a salary/savings/fiance/apartment that I think of as a home/cat. I also run a growing blog (www.midter.net) with its own not-terrible Twitter (www.twitter.com/midternet) and a rather crappy politically progressive Facebook page (www.facebook.com/progressus). I did get the privilege to intern for a not terribly bad PAC, Democracy for America, and run their Facebook for a while (https://www.facebook.com/DFAaction).

Nowadays I'm a freelancer while I look for a real job. That real job is a little hard to get so getting strange, mystical clients has been my calling. Right now I'm helping sell a book on safe teen driving for parents (boring, but money), and helping a non-profit across the country teach women how to defend themselves/physically maim would-be rapists (fun, also money).

So that's an update?
Well, about what I would expect. A pinko-commie resume if I ever heard one! What about your tea blog? Are you still doing that?
Hey guys let's drive up to Vermont, pin down Ulgania and cut off his hair Mitt Romney-style. Straighten him the fuck out.

Welcome back.
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meh
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1st Lieutenant
 *  *  *  *  *  *
I'm being ravaged by finals.
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Whal
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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Same here :/. 4 HUGE exams and a 18 page paper have left me pulling my hair out.
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meh
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1st Lieutenant
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One 8 page and one 5 page paper due tomorrow. Another 10 page and a 6 page due Wednesday. On top of a comprehensive math exam. :sad:
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Aelius
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Norman Warlord
Figured I'd post here since you guys typically have decent ideas.

I've been living a little outside Stillwater, OK for a while now, in a cramped RV with my father, working at a truck stop. I've wanted to move back to OKC for a while, partly to get a "real" job and partly to get out of this cramped, inefficiently designed RV, but I'm essentially unable to do so until I can get a good enough job lined up to move. On this logic, I'm wondering more and more if I may be better off just trying to stay in Stillwater and get my own apartment, considering how hard it's been to even get an interview back in the metro.

I've worked my way up to $9.75/hour after starting at $8/hour back in March, so I could theoretically afford a modest apartment in Stillwater (rent is much cheaper than in OKC), but I don't know for sure if I'd be much happier. The job is still below where I ultimately want to be in life: while I could afford to live on my own, I still want to do something greater, as it feels like at the moment I'm simply treading water.

Additionally, most of my friends still live in OKC or Norman. I've made a few new friends at work who I think are reliable and enjoy my company, but I'm not completely sure if they value me as much as I value them. But I suppose this could be said about any group of people.

On a somewhat related topic, I would eventually like to get back into the dating game, but I'm uncertain if I'm the right cultural fit for most of the women in this part of the state. I'm probably painting with too broad a brush here, but it does seem that the majority of women I've met here seem to go for a more "salt-of-the-earth", country boy type, which is essentially the exact opposite of what I am. A real city would probably suit me better and would probably have women that are more appreciative of my personality traits, though that is just a guess on my part. Perhaps getting a job that pays more and would grant me a higher status in the world would be a better solution than just moving, but again, it's hard to even get my foot in the door anywhere. If I were to take an apartment in Stillwater, I'd likely be stuck there for a minimum of six months, if not longer, and taking a job in OKC at that point would be impossible, should I decide that should have been the option I had chosen.

If I were to simply get my own apartment in Stillwater and maintain the job I have, it would only be a half measure towards solving problems (or things I perceive as problems), but the mental stability boost alone could make it a viable option. Having an entire domicile as personal space would grant me all the room I need (and would allow me to stop paying for a storage unit for my couch and mattress). I could invite people over to hang out pretty much at my discretion, which would make entertaining my Stillwater friends simpler, and would allow my OKC and Norman friends to come visit me and stay the night, if they needed to. My father would still be close by should I need him or should he need me. Consistently working utilities would be a blessing, and living in town would make errands far more convenient. The drive out to my workplace (approximately 15 miles from Stillwater proper, about a 30 mile round trip) could do harm to my car, considering I'm not confident in my vehicle's well-being, but I'm driving 17 miles round trip to work as it stands, and a similar trip anytime I need to go into town for something.

So, these are my thought processes. I'm uncertain if I should even pursue this route at all, or if I'd be better off continuing to try and get myself back to OKC. If I can secure a job down there, then that's the route I will take. If I am unable to, or until I can, what is the best solution?
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
Already told ya. No job is "beneath you". Save until you have enough to put down on an apartment, then move - to a real city. If OKC is your idea of a "real" city, then go, and take any job you can find to pay the bills. Jobs are temporary anyway - I've changed jobs many times (not careers, mind you, but jobs), so find ANYTHING in a field that interests you and work to advance! If you have no experience, get some. It can be done.
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Toussaint
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Major
I was supposed to do this yesterday, but the weather back east threw off my plans some.

I finished my undergrad degree (summa cum laude) just before Christmas, and I'm waiting to hear back from a couple graduate programs I've applied to. After more than a year of travelling back and forth, I am moving in with my girlfriend in Vancouver, Canada on an open employment authorization visa. No job lined up, so I'm going to hit the ground running once I'm there. I bring nothing but my savings and what I could carry in my luggage (without paying oversize fees :P ).

Wish me luck! ^^
Edited by Toussaint, Jan 7 2014, 05:11 PM.
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Rhadamanthus
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Legitimist

Good luck and congratulations! What graduate fields are you interested in? Are you looking to start a graduate program next year, or to work for some time first?
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Toussaint
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Major
If all goes according to plan, I'll be studying developmental economics beginning in September. ^^
Now I just have to wait until March or so to see how that goes.
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flumes
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CLEVELAND ROCKS!
If we all had taken all the money we spent on college educations and instead invested it all in bitcoin when it was first mentioned on this board we wouldn't have to worry about jobs.
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Pidgin
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Private
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flumes
Jan 28 2014, 04:39 PM
If we all had taken all the money we spent on college educations and instead invested it all in bitcoin when it was first mentioned on this board we wouldn't have to worry about jobs.
Ain't that the truth. or buying gold in the 90s at $200 per ounce and selling when it was $1700 oz few months ago.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
Pidgin
Jan 28 2014, 06:30 PM
flumes
Jan 28 2014, 04:39 PM
If we all had taken all the money we spent on college educations and instead invested it all in bitcoin when it was first mentioned on this board we wouldn't have to worry about jobs.
Ain't that the truth. or buying gold in the 90s at $200 per ounce and selling when it was $1700 oz few months ago.
I actually did that. Just didn't buy enough.
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East Anarx
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Anarchitect

flumes
Jan 28 2014, 04:39 PM
If we all had taken all the money we spent on college educations and instead invested it all in bitcoin when it was first mentioned on this board we wouldn't have to worry about jobs.
I have one bitcoin. I bought it for like 6 bucks. I wish I'd bought 100.
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Pidgin
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Private
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New Harumf
Jan 29 2014, 12:47 PM
Pidgin
Jan 28 2014, 06:30 PM
flumes
Jan 28 2014, 04:39 PM
If we all had taken all the money we spent on college educations and instead invested it all in bitcoin when it was first mentioned on this board we wouldn't have to worry about jobs.
Ain't that the truth. or buying gold in the 90s at $200 per ounce and selling when it was $1700 oz few months ago.
I actually did that. Just didn't buy enough.
I missed out. if I would have dumped every dollar I made back then in gold. I would be doing pretty decent today
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Al Araam
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Demigod of Death & Inactivity

I got in on Bitcoin mining early, actually. I picked up ten or so mining on a crappy setup when the difficulty was low. Then I lost the wallet file, so now I don't have that 10 grand..
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Rhadamanthus
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Legitimist

I haven't been following the whole Bitcoin thing so I didn't realize how badly I missed out :lol:

I was just reading that apparently even mining other lesser value cryptocoins is a big enough deal that it drives up the prices of GPUs with good compute performance.
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Aelius
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Norman Warlord
So I finally went and got myself an apartment, actually inside Stillwater. Same menial job at the truck stop, but at least I'll finally have a living space that's entirely mine. Will be moving in the last week of February. I'm a bit nervous, but at least it finally feels like I'm moving forward, even if it's only a half measure. And it'll be nice to actually live in an actual town again.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
Aelius
Feb 15 2014, 12:24 PM
So I finally went and got myself an apartment, actually inside Stillwater. Same menial job at the truck stop, but at least I'll finally have a living space that's entirely mine. Will be moving in the last week of February. I'm a bit nervous, but at least it finally feels like I'm moving forward, even if it's only a half measure. And it'll be nice to actually live in an actual town again.
One step at a time, grasshopper. Maybe, just maybe, you can turn it into an Austin Powers-like sex palace! Oklahoma State college chicks are quite horny, so I've been told!
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Aelius
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Norman Warlord
New Harumf
Feb 15 2014, 07:23 PM
Aelius
Feb 15 2014, 12:24 PM
So I finally went and got myself an apartment, actually inside Stillwater. Same menial job at the truck stop, but at least I'll finally have a living space that's entirely mine. Will be moving in the last week of February. I'm a bit nervous, but at least it finally feels like I'm moving forward, even if it's only a half measure. And it'll be nice to actually live in an actual town again.
One step at a time, grasshopper. Maybe, just maybe, you can turn it into an Austin Powers-like sex palace! Oklahoma State college chicks are quite horny, so I've been told!
Possibly, but I'm not a college football recruit. :P
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Menhad
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ET2(IDW)
Aelius
Feb 16 2014, 12:45 PM
New Harumf
Feb 15 2014, 07:23 PM
Aelius
Feb 15 2014, 12:24 PM
So I finally went and got myself an apartment, actually inside Stillwater. Same menial job at the truck stop, but at least I'll finally have a living space that's entirely mine. Will be moving in the last week of February. I'm a bit nervous, but at least it finally feels like I'm moving forward, even if it's only a half measure. And it'll be nice to actually live in an actual town again.
One step at a time, grasshopper. Maybe, just maybe, you can turn it into an Austin Powers-like sex palace! Oklahoma State college chicks are quite horny, so I've been told!
Possibly, but I'm not a college football recruit. :P
Not with that attitude.
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Toussaint
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Major
I just got word that I've received a full ride to Simon Fraser University's Masters in International Development program, starting in September. I guess I'll be hanging around in Canada for at least a little while! :)

In the meantime, I'm working an okay job as an inventory and accounts manager for a bike shop... but I'm finding it quite boring. I may go looking for something a little more professional in the coming weeks.
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

That's awesome, Tou! Happy to hear that. ^^
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Aelius
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Norman Warlord
A blog post about my new apartment, if anyone cares to read.

Quote:
 
A small victory, I know, but it's nice to finally be independent, and it feels like my life is much more under my control. While my dad has helped me as much as he can (and continues to do so), I needed to have my own space, and it's not financially infeasible. I'll at least be in this place until the end of the year, and we'll reexamine things as 2014 draws to a close, but for now, this will work just fine for me.

Eventually, I would eventually look to move back to OKC (or to some other city somewhere else, if the opportunity for work presents itself ), but as it stands, I had been looking for a more professional sort of job for the last fifteen months (closer to 18 months, if we're counting the time I was in OKC but working tech support for a certain unpleasant company), and I've honestly gotten burned out on the whole job search thing. While the job I have now isn't perfect, I like the people I work with and it's an easy job that pays enough to make my bills where I'm at presently. I'm also trying to get some consistent freelance writing work going for extra income and (hopefully) some exposure to people that can get me where I want to be for 2015 and beyond. If necessary, I could go back to school for computer science or a similar field that would be more beneficial to me, or at least give me more options, but I'm trying to save up money to see what I can do. I guess I'm playing the long game, at this point, since the short game has done me no real favors.

I'm still kinda looking for a special lady who makes me happy and vice versa, but she has yet to make herself obvious. She will probably come in time, though. I'm also looking to try and get back in shape; I haven't done any outright exercise in almost a year, and it shows. Now that I have the space (and the clean air), I'd be interested in any suggestions for exercise programs that can be performed within the confines of my apartment.
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Al Araam
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Demigod of Death & Inactivity

Congratulations. I'd like to give you a piece of advice, if I might, unless I miss my guess, you're going to be living your life on a shoestring budget. I have some experience with that. My advice, take it or leave it, is to get your paycheck in cash. It may seem counter-intuitive, but it actually makes managing your rather meager finances a lot easier. It's much easier to keep track of the cash in your wallet than the cash in your checking account. If you do the pay period's business in cash, you always know exactly how you're doing as far as staying inside your budget goes. When, not if, if you're an intelligent individual, you have additional cash when you receive your next paycheck, you deposit the remainder of the cash. Sorry, it's probably a tremendously obvious way to deal with being poor, but just in case it isn't..

The system isn't too fancy. I get paid every two weeks. The full amount of my rent is placed on my desk first thing every time I cash a paycheck. This system may seem stupid, but it has actually proved to be fairly useful. Honestly, you're essentially getting no interest from your saving/checking account. There's no harm in keeping some cash on you. I promise it is harder to spend physical cash than to reduce those nebulous numbers attached to your checking account. Also, if you're paying cash, you don't need to worry about overdrawing your debit/credit cards, and believe me, that can be expensive. Buy what you can pay for in cash. You can get by on almost nothing, and being able to do so is a life skill. Trust me.
Edited by Al Araam, Mar 6 2014, 07:39 AM.
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