Hope for the next gen?

[BrokenTrack]

To answer the original question...MAYBE?

I say that because I read a memoir by my Great Uncle who thought there was no hope for the next generation...and he wrote that in 1909. It pretty much means every generation feels this way.

BUT...I know what you mean.

Myself, I never thought I would see the day, but my Grandfather told me back in 1992 that "there is always a need for people to dig ditches." So I took welding and Diesel Mechanics in High School and did well in the Railroad and Maritime Industries.

Last year, Jackman Maine had their only plumber retire, and they were so desperate, the town put up a $7000 sign on bonus to get one into town again. FOR A PLUMBER, and that is saying nothing about what the person charges per hour for doing the jobs! I would have never thought I would have seen that.

As the Baby Boomers retire out, and people do not want to get their hands dirty, the blue collar trades will be where the money is.

Here is the thing, it is not about how much money a person makes, but what they spend on living expenses. If a Doctor makes 1.5 million dollars a year, and spends 1.6 million dollars a year to live...they might be a doctor, but they are still broke!

 

[BrokenTrack]

I subcontract out to a friend, setting my own hours and working when I want, just because he cannot get help, and I am retired.

He cannot get flaggers to show up on the big road jobs he does, so he asked me if he needed it, would I flag traffic. Of course I will. A guy with a Stop/Slow sign is needed just as much as an Excavator Operator, if it is a requirement for the job, it must be in place.

So people drive by and look at me like I am stupid for being out there, but it is all about knowing statistics. For instance, I know 85% of people in the USA do not have $1000 in the bank, and live pay check to paycheck. So that means 9 out of 10 people who drive by me are broke. They drive by and think I am stupid for what I do, and I think they are stupid for driving a Lexus, making payments they cannot afford, so I look at them like they are silly because my crappy 2008 Ford Focus is not much, but paid is for. Because I have so little living expenses, the money I make goes to charity.

Flag a construction road job site? Why not? Do you know how much those people are getting paid? Its about $25-30 an hour.

 

[Egon]

I’ll agree with Moss on more emphasis in school on the trades. There should be an early split on whether it’s a trades life or an academic life.

My son was encouraged to take Homeeck and the daughter shop when in school. At present one has an Engineering masters and the other has two BSA’s. The wife has an arts degree and a RN degree. Me, I’m the family dummy.

 

[3930dave]

G'day Dave. Yep to both (and, if you need to use ethanol petrol, it's sugar cane based! Regular petrol is readily available though so why would you?).

That's not to say that women can't join. Official Site of Tasmanian Men's Shed Association.

Immigration's not that difficult as long as you can contribute to the country... Heck, the only real difference between Canada & Aus is driving on the other side of the road, the flora & fauna.

Just a bit of fun on my part..... I'm all for anybody who's interested, pursuing new skills.

Besides.... snowflakes would melt Down Under (most of the year/continent) :laughing: ....... the Aussies (both sexes) I've met were accomplished and confident people, that had better things to do than spend time on a bit of trivial verbage......

It's not what she does for Work work, but my SIL has more practical hands-on mechanical and reno skills than many guys of my generation, and definitely much more than the younger gens.

Spending time with someone in a non-standard activity can be a good way to shift gears and bond more...... one reason some companies plan outside Active activities, that have nothing to do with Work.

I'm sure that will be time well spent DE.... you never know what one spark of interest will lead to, and the course should be fun all on its own.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

1) I say that because I read a memoir by my Great Uncle who thought there was no hope for the next generation...and he wrote that in 1909. It pretty much means every generation feels this way.

2) As the Baby Boomers retire out, and people do not want to get their hands dirty, the blue collar trades will be where the money is.

1) Human History..... same subject was written about in Ancient Greece. A mix of truth, and the emotions of older folks (like me :laughing.

2) We are there Now, at least up here. I'd have to stop and count the # of University grads I know that are under or un-employed, while all the Trades guys I know have more work than they can handle, and are well-paid for it.

My HVAC contractor neighbour has a number of very wealthy clients. One lady (who has never worked, her agreed-upon "job" is to spend the massive amount of money hubby makes) told him "Your bills I don't worry about much, it's the Plumbers that scare me !" Yeah, plumbers do OK :thumbsup:.

Esp. with where the northern peso is now, I'd flag a construction site all year long for $25+ USD !

Very clean 12v Cummins I saw on the road recently, had a nicely done script across the back window - "Dirty Hands, Clean Money"

As I type that ^, I'm also thinking there's a lot of truth to reversing the Clean and Dirty positions in that saying, but that's a whole other thread right there.....

Rgds, D.

 

[dragoneggs]

Enjoying the replies here. Didn’t have expectations for this thread and direction. My son and I used to be very close up through his high school years. Lots of family events, sports, coaching, etc. A divorce and him getting married and moving to Oregon has drifted us apart some.

He has matured and is starting to appreciate more than video games. I think he is finally enjoying being productive and it is gratifying to me.

A few years ago I started giving him tools as gifts and he is catching the fever.

It will be fun to spend an extended weekend with him and his wife in a few weeks.

I think the place we are taking the lathe working class is a cooperative where one can use all the tools both wood and metal. Great place for for those without the means or space to set up their own shop.

 

[aczlan]

I subcontract out to a friend, setting my own hours and working when I want, just because he cannot get help, and I am retired.

He cannot get flaggers to show up on the big road jobs he does, so he asked me if he needed it, would I flag traffic. Of course I will. A guy with a Stop/Slow sign is needed just as much as an Excavator Operator, if it is a requirement for the job, it must be in place.
...
Flag a construction road job site? Why not? Do you know how much those people are getting paid? Its about $25-30 an hour.

That is why we are starting to see mechanical flaggers:





Aaron Z

 

[3930dave]

I don't have kids..but do have nephews. They don't want to get dirty. I have offered to hire them for summer and weekends when they were in school...no takers. Thy would rather play on a computer.

You can make a lot of money playing games......

Teen Fortnite millionaire: 'I got first Xbox when I was six' - BBC News

....... but the odds are probably better for becoming a successful Rock Star......

That said, what I did find a bit startling ^, was that 1MM+ was half of coming in second !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I think the place we are taking the lathe working class is a cooperative where one can use all the tools both wood and metal. Great place for for those without the means or space to set up their own shop.

Those coops are really important today. They allow people access they never had in school, and address the deficits you cite. Us oldsters that don't feel like going back to School, can use them too !

Rgds, D.

 

[MossRoad]

Geez, I drove through two constructions zones on Friday. At one, the flagger had the sign turned to STOP and was waving me though. At another, the flagger had the SLOW side towards me, waving me through, and to his back, coming towards me, was a line of half a dozen cars! :mur: