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I wanna be a tree hugger
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JSA
Jul 3, 08 20:51
Post #1 of 16 (1454 views)
I wanna be a tree hugger
Can't Post
Well, I don't really mean "tree hugger" but, I don't know what else to call them (b/c I am referred to a group of professions). I see these people who get to work in the wild. Maybe they study birds or plants or other wildlife. Maybe they study trees or monkeys or ... I don't know ... the point is, they get to work in the wild.
They seem like the happiest, most satisfied people in the world. I only personally know a couple people in these types of fields and they seem like the happiest, most fulfilled people. And, they get to work outside all the time, drive off-road all the time, and get to work outside all the time. They get to wear cool clothing, grow beards, and they get to work outside!
I like my job, I'm good at it, I make good money, I solve people's problems ... but ... I don't get to work outside and I'm not sure I am making a difference.
So, I kinda wanna be a tree hugger. Too bad I have absolutely no education or experience to do anything like that. Ok, I'm done rambling.
Anyone here in one of these fields? Are you really that happy and fulfilled?
_______________________________________________
"My better is better than your better." - LT, via Nike
The people who keep me moving:
TRANSITION -
Get Moving!
SallyShortyPnts
Jul 3, 08 21:27
Post #2 of 16 (1442 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [JSA]
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Now get back to work so you can buy food for your foundling dog named Kansas. You absolutely do make a difference. Be a dog hugger and be happy!
bostonhopeful
Jul 3, 08 22:24
Post #3 of 16 (1437 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [JSA]
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All I know is that the Tree Huggers at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley have cost an additional $350,000 in police/security, etc.
I'd consider myself very liberal, a "tree hugger," and all for the environment, but couldn't they have just used the $350,000 towards something more practical? Even donating it to the Sierra Club or something the National Parks!
JSA
Jul 3, 08 23:06
Post #4 of 16 (1431 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [bostonhopeful]
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Yeah, that is true. That is an extreme and not really those to whom I was referring. I shouldn't have used the term "tree hugger" b/c of the negative connotation. My observation of the extremist types (and this is a VERY general observation) is that they are really angry, not really happy.
Oh well. I do like what I do and it gives me the income to do what I love.
_______________________________________________
"My better is better than your better." - LT, via Nike
The people who keep me moving:
TRANSITION -
Get Moving!
JSA
Jul 3, 08 23:10
Post #5 of 16 (1429 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [SallyShortyPnts]
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Oh I AM a dog hugger! If I ever win the lottery, first thing I am doing is opening a dog rescue.
Ceasar Millan, now there is a guy w/ a great career. Busted his tail to get there. My massage therapist, who also does a little massage/rehab work on injured dogs (I never knew there was such a thing) spoke to him a couple years ago about going to work for him for a year as an apprentice type program. That would be pretty cool.
_______________________________________________
"My better is better than your better." - LT, via Nike
The people who keep me moving:
TRANSITION -
Get Moving!
Hid
Jul 4, 08 5:54
Post #6 of 16 (1394 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [JSA]
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you can rescue one dog at a time...it doesn't take winning the lotto :)
"it's like information without the facts." - Mr. Tibbs
"it's not posted to a triathlon forum, but to a lifestyle forum that happens to be inhabited by triathletes. all kinds of stuff gets posted here, and i'm grateful that it does. - Dan Empfield aka Slowman
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...0what%20to%20;#65849
TBinMT
Jul 4, 08 7:12
Post #7 of 16 (1371 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [JSA]
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Nowadays it takes a $150,000 PhD in wildlife bio. to get an interview for a job that starts at $35K. The F.S. BLM, National Parks and tiny state agencies are some of the few branches of the government that are not growing in size, but rather being slashed these days. Another option is wildland firefighting, which is growing every summer, thanks our ever-expanding suburbia. It takes no experience to get in at the ground level (you start out alongside the guys in half-way houses) and you can rise quickly if you are half-way responsible. But when you start you are only promised 3-4 months of work a year and it is not quite as fun as counting gophers.
Sharon
Jul 4, 08 7:29
Post #8 of 16 (1365 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [TBinMT]
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It's almost this bad in Canada too, at least for government jobs.
Another thing for JSA to be aware of is that your salary is inversely proportional to the amount of time you spend in the "wild". Most professionals (geologists, hydrologists, engineers, foresters etc.) rarely get out of the office and when they do they don't venture far from the truck or helicopter. They rely on the technicians or junior scientists to do all the field work and they just sign the reports.
fred_h
Jul 4, 08 8:34
Post #9 of 16 (1347 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [JSA]
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It is a passion, a calling (kind of like being a nuun or priest).
I sit all day long in an office in front of a PC working on "next generation" stuff. But I still spend about 2h, if not more, outside per day (rode to the office this morning + swim in the river for a total of 2h. We ride back home + run before ride for total of about 1h30)
My wife is kind of a tree hugger working for the Riverkeeper organization in Ottawa. She spent time in office but also drive around to meet people and will usually call me because the is lost in the middle of nowehere. She will also spent some time on the river on a canoe...
Yes it will be nice to really make a difference... but it is not that easy and I do not believe it is for everybody.
Fred.
JSA
Jul 4, 08 8:42
Post #10 of 16 (1343 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [fred_h]
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Cool. Thanks for the responses! I figured I had glamourized the position. Still it sounds like there are some great careers. I would love to hear more from people.
I understand the calling aspect. I felt that when I was in the Army. I have missed that feeling a little although I do enjoy my job quite a bit.
_______________________________________________
"My better is better than your better." - LT, via Nike
The people who keep me moving:
TRANSITION -
Get Moving!
banana
Jul 4, 08 9:02
Post #11 of 16 (1334 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [Sharon]
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Site Engineer. Spend enough time in lousy places that are generally named Ft-Something and you may get lucky with an assignment somewhere cool. I did. :)
stal
Jul 4, 08 10:58
Post #12 of 16 (1309 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [TBinMT]
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Couldn't be more right...these days even the non-profits and volunteer orgs that are out there are more picky than the Harvard admissions committee.
If you want to do your part, find an issue that you are passionate about and learn everything you can. Then be proactive and pushy in order to get stuff done.
lilpups
Jul 4, 08 12:23
Post #13 of 16 (1287 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [JSA]
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It's a volunteer position work but look at getting onto the board of one of the nonprofits you admire (no-kill shelter perhaps). It will help make you feel like you're giving back and being a positive force in the community in addition to still having an income that you can live on from your fulltime position.
The real life of a small-time entrepreneur:
http://enrepreneurrollercoaster.blogspot.com/
abies
Jul 4, 08 13:17
Post #14 of 16 (1278 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [JSA]
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Well I used to work in that glamourous forestry field (accountant now) so you can probably guess, it isn't all roses. The pay wasn't great but better than a Ph.d Biologist, to make more you definately work inside more. Plus I don't know where you are but working outside everyday in the winter gets old, dito for all those 30 degree c days, when you have no way to cool off, spring is nice except when it is raining and you have to try and figure out if you should sweat your bag off in rain gear and then freeze or just get soaked and freeze without the reain gear. And if your lucky and work in the mountains you can get snowed on in the summer and freeze. Having said that I have a ton of great memories from 3 year in the feild. The other downside was I never wanted to go hiking or camping when I got back home because I had jsut done that for 2 weeks. So I truely believe that if you like the outdoors don't go into that field, it takes the specialness away.
Ben
Khai
Jul 4, 08 21:20
Post #15 of 16 (1232 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [JSA]
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A friend of mine is a forester and he is one of the happiest, most down to earth people I know. His wife works for the government doing something with Native affairs and they've got two beautiful kids, both incredibly well adjusted, polite and a real pleasure to be around - not easy for 14 and 16yr olds! I don't attribute any of this to his profession, but I do get what you're longing for.
For the record, he's now a manager and doesn't spend much time in the bush anymore. And his kids' friends think he's a
logger
for some reason... :p
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spot
Jul 5, 08 13:50
Post #16 of 16 (1132 views)
Re: I wanna be a tree hugger [JSA]
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Wow, I think you and I are sharing a brain wave or something (hopefully that doesn't offend you :) ), 'cause I would love to have a job that kept me outside most of the time. I'm making very good money using the experience I gained in the military, but doing stuff for profit rather than for country or service, even if its similar work, is definitely making a dent in the job satisfaction department. Sometimes I wonder if I wouldn't be happier working for a non-profit that benefited the environment, or some sort of larger good like that...
Spot
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