first week recap - post 119

this past monday (26 nov 12) i started the new position.  pt/seasonal - 20hrs/wk through march 13 - only, so it's not worth getting too excited over.  they take training somewhat seriously.  it's kind of boring though.  there's a lot to remember (won't be too much of an issue - just will take time).  the equipment isn't terribly difficult to operate, just big in a way different than i'm used to.  be it bus or tractor/trailer - they were all 102" wide, max (8.5').  these things have plows or brooms up to 22' wide.  granted, the lengths are far smaller - but, when compared to what i'm accustomed to driving, the width and weight distribution changes a lot about the operation / center of gravity / turning radius / backing / etc.  i just need some time to become familiar with the new equipment and the policies / procedures for snow operations and i'll be fine - but getting there is going to be a process.

positives:

• i get to operate heavy equipment and add that to my resume.  including skid-steers, john deere tractors / loaders, wheeled loaders, oshkosh plow trucks, international 4300 series straight trucks (salt / sand spreaders) and possibly some BAMF (big-ass mutha-fuckin') snow brooms.
• i'm fascinated by infrastructure and how it works - getting on-field access to a working airport combining commercial / civil / military operations is pretty exciting.
• it's paid work.
• writ large, i'll have some opportunities to just do my own thing: here's your assignment - go do it.  i'm a fan of working solo.  give me a project, goals, deadline and a bit of instruction on how you want it done and let me get after it.
• unless there's snow, it's only 20hrs/wk ~ i have time to continue my real search.
• afternoon shift --> i don't have to kill myself to get onto a bullshit sleep schedule.

negatives:

• in good weather - it's more than 45min each way of a commute.  that means i'm in the car 1.5-2hrs RT per shift (4hrs, if it's not snowing).  it also means that i'm paying out an increased $150/mo± just in fuel costs to get back and forth to work (~1/9 of my gross).
• it will easily be worse than driving a bus in the same circle for 12hrs, driving up and down the same runways / ramps over and over and over for an entire shift. high boredom potential leads to increased over analyzing leads to increased levels of discontentment with the trajectory of my life.
• hit a $300M± airplane --> FIRED / fucked. hard.
• could be shot by the military if i accidentally wander across a painted line on the ground that could be hidden by the snow.
• could be killed by a plane landing on top of me.
• 5days/wk for only 20hrs.  on call 24/7 through march --> no chance of leaving for any manner of vacation / backpacking / anything.  weird hours also mean that i'll have a very hard time picking up a p/t job around it.
• it's not paying that well.  after fuel / taxes, i'll have enough to pay btwn 3-5 bills / month - depending on which ones i decide need to be paid that month.
• it doesn't benefit me in any direct way towards furthering my career goals.

idk, there's positives and negatives.  i just hope that they balance out and it doesn't turn into a giant clusterfuck.