re: We're all stuck in a rut trying to do what people who lied to us told us to do

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Im blue collar but I see jobs like roof repair sales and the salary range says 125-250k a year.

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Knew a guy who was a painter (like house painter, high society painter). Had a tiny little office a few blocks off the main drag that everybody drove by for at least half a century and nobody paid any attention. Not a big contractor, just a country boy who worked hard and could tell the difference between good bones and bad skin and bad bones and good skin. Would buy a place with good bones and spruce it up in-between jobs painting others houses. Did this for about 50 years and retired in the late 1980's. Had about 20 million to 40 million in real estate when he sold it all.

Lived out his days in a simple 3 BR ranch in a good part of town but not showy or McMansion home. Drove an old pickup truck and work clothes except for church on Sunday.

Congratulations on finally moving out of your parent’s basement and getting your first job. You ancestors had to work 10 times as hard in the field all day just to grow the minimum amount of food to eat.

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He's IT?

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no, a chef

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He's IT?
no, a chef

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so he just bad at math?

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It is also why we tend to struggle hiring out-of-state talent.

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In what fields? Tons of out of state talent in the refining and petrochemical facilities up and down the river. Many of which don't leave because they like it here.

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fify

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Ironically they speak highly of their experience here and cost of living doesn't typically come up in the conversation. But I guess you know everything.

I’m just wondering when did previous generations have it better?!? Hours worked per week has declined over time. The quality of work isn’t nearly as dangerous or hard on the body.

When was it better?!? I think it’s just very fashionable to complain…

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Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two

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yes, they do

Sir, this is a Piccadilly.

But I agree with all that. And I get viscerally angry when I look up and I’m right back in the BS.

Work is a blessing. Work is also cursed. But there are things we can do, including through sacrificing comforts/convenience/material goods and difficult prioritizing, to make our work *work* and not some end in itself or mindless toiling under the sun. And to do less of it (and/or less of the miserable sort of work).

Having a grander purpose and obeying slowly in the same direction are antidotes to the mundane drudgery.