I need some life advice

[Woodman]

Thing is I got a woman tying me down. I'm lucky to have done the travelling and mindless adventure that I have already. If it wasn't for this then I wouldn't be worrying about a focussed career, saving for a house deposit, submitting to banks for a mortgage and the other pressures that are inevitably thrown on us blah blah blah. I should probably be thankful about that though.

Tying you down (your words) or holding you back?

Not saying anything, but its just how I read it between the lines.

crucify me if you disagree

[Fatt Max]

All those pies you passed by and never ate...

How can you be so heartless, reminding me of that.......back to rehab, thanks PB

[AllanB]

I've always thought that 16-22 is too young to work out what you want to do with your life. A good question is to ask yourself - what will I regret not doing?

True words, I'll be 46 this month and still don't have a clue - well not strictly true but what I 'want' to do will not pay for the house and feed the kids!

Have you thought of being a manwhore and selling your body to women who cannot get laid?

But seriously get a trade behind you that you can fall back on later in life if required. Building trade, sparky, plumber etc I wish I did as I'm a bit stuck now where I am and will probably end up selling tools at Bunnings for minimum wage in a decade.

Bugger now I'm depressed too!

[Fatt Max]

Trust me I know what you mean, thing is I have a woman tying me down.

Fuck, I still pay good money for that you lucky bastard

[Ocean1]

thing is I have a woman tying me down.

The better ones are tolerably portable, dude.

I'm lucky to have done the travelling and mindless adventure that I have already. If it wasn't for this then I wouldn't be worrying about a focussed career, staying in Auckland, saving for a house deposit, the submission to banks for a mortgage and the other pressures that are inevitably thrown on us blah blah blah. I should probably be thankful about that it's now rather than too late though.

Meh. Couple of years of wandering? plenty of time yet. Why not study engineering, (mech, broader applications) off shore and make the most of the long tertiary hollidays. Like thousands of Kiwis have done before you.

[ttmadness]

True words, I'll be 46 this month and still don't have a clue - well not strictly true but what I 'want' to do will not pay for the house and feed the kids!

Have you thought of being a manwhore and selling your body to women who cannot get laid?

But seriously get a trade behind you that you can fall back on later in life if required. Building trade, sparky, plumber etc I wish I did as I'm a bit stuck now where I am and will probably end up selling tools at Bunnings for minimum wage in a decade.

Bugger now I'm depressed too!

Never say die mate.

[Maha]

Best advice is...you need a trade job.
Nobody but nobody can do a trade job better than a trades person.
If you feel a change of scenary after a few years, do something mundane like a desk job for a couple of years.
You will always have a trade to go back to.
I left school without any qualifications at all, none, no school C nuffink.
I have been in my trade now for 30 years, never been without a job within that 30 years.

[ttmadness]

Best advice is...you need a trade job.
Nobody but nobody can do a trade job better than a trades person.
I left school without any qualifications at all, none, no school C nuffink.
I have been in my trade now for 30 years, never been without a job within that 30 years.

Which trade and do you enjoy it? Does it satisfy how you want to spend each day for a living?

I am really interested to hear from any senior mechanics about how things are going after a couple of decades at it.

I know there is the 3 year bike mechanic course in Wellington but is there there anything comparable in Auckland?

[Highlander]

Thing is I got a woman tying me down. I'm lucky to have done the travelling and mindless adventure that I have already. If it wasn't for this then I wouldn't be worrying about a focussed career, staying in Auckland, saving for a house deposit, the submission to banks for a mortgage and the other pressures that are inevitably thrown on us blah blah blah. I should probably be thankful about that though.

If you feel she is tying you down you have to wonder if she is right for you. Certainly don't want to have any resentment festering to come out in years to come.

I was married at 19, we had kids quick there after. Basically put our lives on hold to give the kids the best opportunities. That was the decision we made and don't regret it for a second. They are now 17, 19 & 21 and will be leaving home in the next few years. We are now largely letting them make their own decisions and starting to think more about us and less about them.

We still have plenty of time to se the world, I don't feel like I have missed out on life.

Like some of the others have said, I too did a trade apprenticeship. Not working the trade now, same industry, the apprenticship set me with a good basis to develop further. Probably wouldn't be here if I hadn't done the aprenticeship.

[Dave Lobster]

Trust me I know what you mean, thing is I have a woman tying me down..

Take her along while she's fun. When she's not, trade for one that is.

[Ocean1]

They are now 17, 19 & 21 and will be leaving home in the next few years.

Past time to change the locks.

[DMNTD:Me]

Never say die mate.

Exactly!

Which trade and do you enjoy it? Does it satisfy how you want to spend each day for a living?

I am really interested to hear from any senior mechanics about how things are going after a couple of decades at it.

I know there is the 3 year bike mechanic course in Wellington but is there there anything comparable in Auckland?

May I suggest that you consider looking elsewhere for a trade and keep the motorcycle mechanics as a passion/hobby? Not much work around and currently there's a glutton of qualified bike mechanics and next to no jobs for them.
Only trying to make you aware man

[scissorhands]

Which trade and do you enjoy it? Does it satisfy how you want to spend each day for a living?

I am really interested to hear from any senior mechanics about how things are going after a couple of decades at it.

I know there is the 3 year bike mechanic course in Wellington but is there there anything comparable in Auckland?

You cant realistically expect to settle on something now that will have the same passion for you in 30 years. Things change, people change, you will change. Sometimes you just want a change, even if you dont need it.

The only thing you can rely on is change.

Numbers of superbikes and big bore vehicles may drastically diminish in time...

Electric vehicles are sooo easy to service.... yearly maintenance times may be slashed by 80-90%

[joan of arc]

Take the path that leads to you to what ever smokes your tyres currently but be prepared for change and don't expect to be content to be doing the same in 10, 20 or 30 years. There are a lucky few that continue to like what they do after years of the same thing but for most variation is needed to maintain interest. Work consumes a lot of our waking hours so you gotta be doing something that you still like.
If you can change your career using the same basic skill base then finding that alternative at a later date is much easier. So get a decent qualification behind you and find one that has scope to allow variation in direction should you need to in the future.

And on a personal note. The woman that is tying you to Auckland. Be sure that that is a good thing before turning your back on potential elsewhere. And finally, live a little more before the mortgage, kids and settled job. There is never another time in your life that it is so easy to be carefree

[Maha]

Which trade and do you enjoy it? Does it satisfy how you want to spend each day for a living?

Im in flooring.
You may need some school qualifications for most trade jobs now days, not so much when I started in 1980. I just walked up to a carpet layer and said '' can you teach me to lay carpet''? he said to me '' bring a cut lunch tomorrow and be here at 8am''...it was that easy. 30 years on, im still doing it. I now work smarter not harder.
Does it still satisfy me?... some days yes and some not so...but you get that in most jobs I guess.
What does please me the most is the gratitude from some customers when I have finished.
I have put several people through apprentiships over the years and I know of two who are still doing it.

There are a number of trades to choose from, look into whatever floats your boat.
I wanted to be a sign writer an or a spray painter, I looked into both trades before going with flooring.