Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Ch-Ch-Changes

I'm not sure if their will really be changes around here, but their might be. For those of you who don't know, my husband has 2 bachelors (Aerospace Engineering, OSU 2002 and Mechanical Engineering, OSU 2005). It's sounds very impressive, but to complete the 2nd degree he just needed 12 hours in anything not remedial. He finished those courses through OCCC in OKC.

Jonathan is a Sr. Design/Program Engineer for an Oklahoma aero company, that does a little bit of it all, repair and overhaul parts, interiors and structures, nacelles and thrust reverser's, etc. He makes more then the state median income, but he is really wanting to knock out some debt, and get an newer car (his car is on its last leg) and he'd like to have more expendable income for potential property investments. He has been told that he is on the fast track for management, but the dollar signs of contract work and the potential to double his income (yes, we would pay the taxes, out insurance, dental and retirement) is very strong. Even with the expenses he would still pull in a lot (between 40% and 50 %) more then he makes now. The drawbacks are lose of his current schedule (4 days a week, 10 hour days-most of the time), more overtime and less time at home and the possibility of being let go at any time, b/c he isn't a direct hire. The market looks to be very hot for the next 2-3 years and he can go back direct at about anytime.

The big question is, is it worth it? It looks good, but with 4 kids I'm not sure I wouldn't opt for security. This is a discussion we have about every 6 months. It might happen, it might not.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is there a possibility he'd be able to go back to his job if the freelance didn't work? If so, I'd say it's worth the risk.

--k

Carina said...

Yeah, that's a tough one. I think he should definitely look for contract work out here in Burns Flat. That way our kids could play together.

Actually, we never really know what we should do about that either. Not that contract work is really an option out here in the boondocks, but the thought of something different is occasionally tempting for my poor desk-bound farm-boy/engineer.

Anonymous said...

When I started my first job in Architecture in NYC during my last semester of college, I was working 50 hour weeks along with finishing up my last two classes. I was used to sleeping 4 hours a night from the conditioning that school gave me.

When classes were done and I got my degree, I went to 60-hour weeks. Occasionally, I'd get to leave on time. Mind you, I got paid overtime, until I reached a certain cut-off limit in my salary.

So, I did that for 5 years, working 60-hour weeks and pretty much burned out. I resigned my position, moved out to the suburbs and bounced around from small firm to small firm till I finally found a good one where the fit was (almost) perfect. But during those 5 years of bouncing, I was able to decompress and actually enjoying my life. I had time for me.

I guess the moral of the story is that you don't really appreciate how important having time to yourself and your family is until it gets away from you.

I think Jonathan will experience that and get stressed out over it, but if he's willing to sacrifice 2 years of his life to make more money to better provide for the family, I say go for it. And having a supportive family during that time will help alleviate any kind of guilt he may have by choosing to go that route. I say it's a small sacrifice if it means a better future for you all.

Good luck and Godspeed. Two years will fly by before you know it.

"Work to live; not live to work."