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Posts: 17
| Hello all,
I'm currently a college student and have thinking about my summer after graduation. I might have the opportunity to spend my summer fishing and the like since I'll be lucky enough to have some money saved up. However, I'll stay be on a budget of sorts as I won't be able to spend all summer renting space at a Canadian lodge or something.
So, if you had to do it all again, any ideas on how I should go about spending these couple of months?
acafisherman19 |
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Posts: 1763
| You could save your money, get a early start on a retirement account or goof off a couple of months and spend the money. How about getting a job at a resort? Get a little fishing time, hone some people skills and get paid for it. I personally know several dock boys who knock down some serious cash during the summer. They get their housing as part of their salary. Make some tip money pumping gas, launching boats, and in general just helping the customers. But the REAL money comes cleaning the fish. Those guys really knock down some coin cleaning fish, especially the guys who can remove the Y bones from Pike. |
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Posts: 1039
Location: North St. Paul, MN | Become a teacher and fish every day, all summer long. That's what I would do. Oh wait, that's what I did! |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Get into firefighter/EMT work. The guys here work 24 hour shifts. They wind up with a lot of time off. |
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Posts: 504
Location: Ludington, MI | You're going to work for the rest of your life. THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. I'd say the lodge job or a charter boat mate would be a great idea. There are trolling charters on LSC that need mates, walleye charters on Saginaw Bay and Erie, salmon charters all across the Great Lakes. You'll pick up all kinds of general fishing skill and knowledge and maybe gain some insight into where you'd like to end up someday. |
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Posts: 383
| Go. Play.
Edited by hooked 8/20/2017 7:18 AM
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Posts: 153
| acafisherman19 - 8/19/2017 8:24 PM
Hello all,
I'm currently a college student and have thinking about my summer after graduation. I might have the opportunity to spend my summer fishing and the like since I'll be lucky enough to have some money saved up. However, I'll stay be on a budget of sorts as I won't be able to spend all summer renting space at a Canadian lodge or something.
So, if you had to do it all again, any ideas on how I should go about spending these couple of months?
acafisherman19
Flag Island Resort is looking for help. Great way to spend the summer and get some fishing in as well. Flag is located in the Northwest Angle, LOTW
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Posts: 527
| Fish as much as you possibly can. You'll never say,"Dang I wish I had fished less this summer..." |
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Posts: 343
| I'd say enjoy yourself, you never know what the future will bring. |
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Posts: 134
| Enjoy some yoga pants and their contents too while you still can. Spent alot of time in early 20s burning candle at both ends trying to get in as much time on water and hours in treestand as posible. Often at expense of what now looking are un reproducible opportunities, wish as I may. Lol. Have some fun this summer and next couple years. You have the rest of life to fish etc...before you know it you will be volunteering to go to coffee shop for wife on Saturday mornings because of the ,still atainible to you, yoga pant clad customers. |
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | God bless all the hard body women who wear yoga pants. |
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Posts: 859
Location: MN | Get a job or get one lined up. I had a bunch of friends decide that they were going to play the summer after they finished College. A bulk of the jobs are handed out in the spring so when they went looking in the fall nothing but temp work and low paying junk. Then when the next spring rolled around they had a harder time because employers didn't understand the gap. Granted this is mute if you have a job set up or if you happen to have a degree in something useful. |
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Posts: 859
Location: MN | muskyroller - 8/19/2017 8:56 PM
Become a teacher and fish every day, all summer long. That's what I would do. Oh wait, that's what I did!
This is the ultimate power play. Both my parents were teachers and we spent our summers fishing and at the lake having a great time. Granted they need to keep up with credits but that must be online now. |
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Posts: 770
| Id go for a job first, wether its a career or at a resort either way youll have money coming in. Saved up money goes quick. And ya yoga pants contents... leave yime for those in between fishibg trips |
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Posts: 7049
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | When I'm not making mega millions working for OutdoorsFIRST, I mess around with being a recruiter (like 20 years of this). I'd echo comments above about how bad an idea it is to put off getting a job to "play" for that summer. The job market is tighter than in recent memory (for anything but technology or some other highly developed fields) and competition for jobs that young people with an education but no real job skills is greater than ever. If you're not in a full time job right after school, you better be in an internship. Fishing is great, f-ing off for a summer sounds like a dream, but it will absolutely SUCK when you're constantly behind those that DID work right out of school, DID do internships.
Yes, life is short, but saving and planing for the future can help you to NOT end up always behind in money and always wishing you had the money and time to go fishing. News flash: having a job and being an adult doesn't mean you will never get to fish. If you get married and your family pops out a bunch of kids, then you buy a house, and 2 new-ish cars, and and and, yeah, you can find yourself in a situation where you have no free time and no free money. BUT, all of that is a choice.
Get a job. Money doesn't make you happy, but not having it really sucks. |
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Posts: 7049
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | AND if I could do it all over again, I would have had LESS fun, worked more, saved more and taken better opportunities to advance my career earlier. It would be fabulous to be about 3 years ahead in my retirement planning right now. |
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Posts: 833
| My biggest regret in college was not taking a summer to do what you are describing. Go do it. Once you hit the 9-5 game you'll never be able to do it again unless you are unemployed and chances are by then you'll have things holding you down like a mortgage and a family. This is your chance to do it and be free.
Take meticulous notes of what your learn. Then once you hit the 9-5 club and become a weekend angler you'll be way ahead of the game. In that one respect it is an investment.
The teaching gig is a great suggestion. Pick a place with excellent fishing nearby and other recreational activities you enjoy. |
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Posts: 8
Location: Central Illinois | Look up the rule of 72 and apply it to your situation.
My personal opinion is to get as much money working for you as you can at your age with the hopes of retiring early. If it all works out you can retire early, fish whenever and wherever if that's what you want to do. I'm three years out of college/master's, and looking back my biggest regret is not starting to invest sooner. Compounding interest is an amazing thing for young people... |
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Posts: 8792
| Wise advice above. Very wise... I fished 50 - 100 days a year during and just out of college. I fished 50-100 days a year for years after that. I was lucky to have a decent job, with 8 weeks pf paid time off by the time the company went under. Spent 6 weeks up North every year, week in Canada, and a week in Florida fishing.
While I would not give those memories back for anything, I woke up one day unemployed, 40 years old, no house, little retirement, $20k to my name, and no real job prospects because I dedicated my life to playing during the 20 years when I should have been busting my butt and socking away money for retirement.
Man, I had fun. But now I look at my parents. They've been retired for 20 years, they will never have to worry about money, and they're having a blast. Every day is a party because they can go wherever they want and do whatever they want. Their only job is staying healthy enough to continue partying like rock stars.
I don't necessarily regret my 20 year vacation. But breaking your ass working 12 hour days/weekends is a LOT different when you're 50 than it is when you're 25. And I won't likely have the luxury of retiring. If I could go back to my 20's or even my 30's, I would do three things:
1. Earn as much money as possible
2. Spend as little money as possible
3. Invest!
I have a buddy who did just that. Never wanted to party, never went out to bars, never went on vacations, never bought fancy cars. A few years ago he paid cash for a $500k house. I fully expect he'll be retired by the time he's 50. |
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Location: oswego, il | Get a job thats gets you a future. Pension, benefits after retirement.
Edited by ToddM 8/30/2017 10:45 AM
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Posts: 1516
| As someone that makes hiring decisions if I had a candidate that told me he took the summer after graduation to go out and have fun fishing and is now looking for a job I would tell him to look elsewhere. U should have had your fun last summer and the summer before that. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Go get a f***ing job already.
For the reasons others have stated AND
A: your life is currently a vacation compared to what it will be in 10 years, so you will appreciate time away more later in life.
B: you will put a hell of a lot more fish in the boat when you have some more experience on the water. |
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Posts: 443
Location: Duluth, MN | Awesome thread. I have to agree with most of the posts. Get the job and start your career in whatever you enjoy. Stay as debt free as possible. And get started with a 401k ASAP. Fishing opportunities will always be there. If you do all of the things mentioned above you will be able to buy a place on LOTW and not have a care in the world and still be young enough to enjoy it. |
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Location: Minnesota. | esoxaddict - 8/30/2017 10:18 AM
Wise advice above. Very wise... I fished 50 - 100 days a year during and just out of college. I fished 50-100 days a year for years after that. I was lucky to have a decent job, with 8 weeks pf paid time off by the time the company went under. Spent 6 weeks up North every year, week in Canada, and a week in Florida fishing.
While I would not give those memories back for anything, I woke up one day unemployed, 40 years old, no house, little retirement, $20k to my name, and no real job prospects because I dedicated my life to playing during the 20 years when I should have been busting my butt and socking away money for retirement.
Man, I had fun. But now I look at my parents. They've been retired for 20 years, they will never have to worry about money, and they're having a blast. Every day is a party because they can go wherever they want and do whatever they want. Their only job is staying healthy enough to continue partying like rock stars.
I don't necessarily regret my 20 year vacation. But breaking your ass working 12 hour days/weekends is a LOT different when you're 50 than it is when you're 25. And I won't likely have the luxury of retiring. If I could go back to my 20's or even my 30's, I would do three things:
1. Earn as much money as possible
2. Spend as little money as possible
3. Invest!
I have a buddy who did just that. Never wanted to party, never went out to bars, never went on vacations, never bought fancy cars. A few years ago he paid cash for a $500k house. I fully expect he'll be retired by the time he's 50.
To the O.P. - read this very carefully, then read it again. Then put it to use.
Get your education ASAP, find a job(s) that will allow you to put away a min. of 15% in company investment programs and if/when you get laid off work 3 jobs until you can resume doing this instead of touching it. You'll find you won't miss it after awhile!
Trust this... |
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Posts: 2337
Location: Chisholm, MN | I caught more fish in college than I do now. I also got C's, but I got my degree! Fish on!
Seriously though, I have a great job that provides a bunch of vacation which I burn up on fishing and deer hunting. It should be like this the rest of my life, which makes happy. |
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Posts: 9
| You may have missed the boat – any summer off should be taken before your senior year. Take the summer after graduation off and forfeit part of your future. A senior summer off on a resume likely gets the resume put on the “Other” pile never to be seen again. Pay special attention to the comments of NathanH, T3clay, Slamr, jwheeler, and ToddM .
Why did you go to college? Hopefully, it was to learn something that interests you and to find a position in that field. If not, you may have wasted your money and the instructors’ time.
Your job during your senior year is: continue to get good grades; get to know your instructors so that they will be able to provide references; learn to write an effective resume (the paperwork only gets you in the door for an interview); learn and practice interviewing skills.
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Posts: 859
Location: MN | What you do in the next 10 years will determine for the most part what kind of life you will live and what kind of life any future spouse or children will have. There are always exceptions but they are rare. |
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Posts: 3150
| Go to southern cal and surf for the summer,,the only "wish I" that I regret,,or whatever YOU Repeat YOU want.
You are only young once theres a "value" in that too not just preparing to hit 62 to retire or the prospect of obtaining more material things .
There's no guarantee that the fishery or your health will be there latter in life. I'm 59 and I've seen many things disappear from my youth that I wish I'd have spent more time doing, pheasant hunting the way the population used to be,brook trout streams,muscle car racing when you could do it every night. "Hell I wish I'd have called in sick more just 7 years ago when the muskie fishing here in twin cities metro was almost a sure thing"
Genie in a bottle offers me a million or that summer in California I wish I took ,, and the beach wins.
Edited by happy hooker 8/30/2017 3:48 PM
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Posts: 841
Location: Southwest PA | Speaking from my own experience, don't screw around... I'll leave it at that for any of the above posters nailed it with the future needing to be taken seriously. I'm 5 years behind now and compounding interest is an amazing thing that I wasted... To the OP, I'm 25 and already regretting it...
Edited by Tommis 8/30/2017 3:59 PM
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Posts: 298
| I'd advise against the summer off as you should have done that last summer. Get set up with a good career. Start SAVING and LIVING. Plan for the future and live for today. One of my good college buddies came home not feeling well one day and was dead a week later at age 28 leaving a 5 month old and a wife. That can happen to anybody so be sure to enjoy today. But saving and preparing is just as important so that when your spouse gets cancer later in life the treatments don't bankrupt you. Do your best to find the best balance for you and life will treat you well. Only thing I would change in the past is the drinking would have stopped in 2002 instead of 2012. Turns out that the beers had little to do with the fun times. |
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Posts: 199
| Do what you want. |
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Posts: 470
Location: Blaine, MN | Truth of the matter is, no one gets off this ride alive... do what's right for you and those important to you to make the ride the most enjoyable. Take into consideration the advice given here (and more importantly, advice given to you by trusted figures in your immediate circle) make your decision, and then own it. Whatever decision that may be, just F%*ing own it.
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Posts: 1084
Location: Aurora | hooked - 8/20/2017 7:16 AM
Go. Play.
X2 on above but i'm biased due to several family members falling ill with inoperable brain tumors, becoming disabled due to a stroke, or dying unexpectedly all of which, including several weddings, has been keeping me from playing this season and reflecting on how lucky i'll feel once i'm able to.
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Posts: 322
| ToddM - 8/30/2017 11:44 AM
Get a job thats gets you a future. Pension, benefits after retirement.
Pension lol those are rarer than 60" muskies
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Posts: 580
| There's some good advice given here. I'd say your decision depends upon your situation, and without knowing some details, its not possible to tell you what is necessarily right and wrong. Will you be entering a field where job opportunities are quite limited and/or highly competitive? If so, do the responsible thing and heed some of the prior advice and do everything you can to secure a good job.
On the other hand, IF you aren't really all that worried about your future job prospects, and IF you feel that your future is rather assured regardless of your decision, well then....my friend, you have a helluva opportunity. If that is the case, then absolutely and unequivocally, take the time and fish until your heart is content. You're probably in your early 20's and believe me, those are years that will pass you by quickly. You have 40+ years of "work-life expectancy", and that will begin soon enough. If there is a brief moment in time that you can be carefree, before beginning the inevitable, trust me, it'll be a period of your life that you look back on with very fond memories and which i doubt that you regret.
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Posts: 255
| Get ahead in life, then enjoy. You are setting a precedent in your life: play first or work first. Fish first, or family first, etc. Make some money, then get a good boat or go on that trip. or you can spend now pay later. You can still fish. That's my two cents worth. |
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Posts: 61
| Go play. Don't work. When you are 75 you won't say, #*^@ wish I had worked instead of going on a fishing binge.
Camp to keep it cheap. I went to canada for 23 straight days when I was in similar situation and have zero regrets. |
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Location: The desert | madfish - 8/31/2017 9:36 AM
Go play. Don't work. When you are 75 you won't say, #*^@ wish I had worked instead of going on a fishing binge.
You might if you're still working at 75
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Location: minocqua, wi. | i would have taken this to heart ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuI6GTY9eVc |
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Posts: 470
Location: Blaine, MN | If you're still working at 75, you either 1.)really like to work, or 2.) did more things wrong than go fishing for 3 months fresh out of college. I just don't see a 3 month hiatus as the end all, doom and gloom of your potential career earnings, savings, retirement, or success. It's 3 friggin months... 90 days. |
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Location: Smith Creek | Only takes about 30 seconds to knock up some unsavory skank. That'll put you back 18 years. Or more. |
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| Flambeauski - 8/31/2017 10:57 AM
Only takes about 30 seconds to knock up some unsavory skank. That'll put you back 18 years. Or more.
Hahaha! |
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Location: oswego, il | Flambeauski - 8/31/2017 10:57 AM
Only takes about 30 seconds to knock up some unsavory skank. That'll put you back 18 years. Or more.
Dont have to be a skank to take everything. |
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Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | Flambeauski - 8/31/2017 10:57 AM
Only takes about 30 seconds to knock up some unsavory skank. That'll put you back 18 years. Or more. so......3 seconds to knock up a bombshell? |
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | short STRIKE - 8/31/2017 10:27 AM
If you're still working at 75, you either 1.)really like to work, or 2.) did more things wrong than go fishing for 3 months fresh out of college. I just don't see a 3 month hiatus as the end all, doom and gloom of your potential career earnings, savings, retirement, or success. It's 3 friggin months... 90 days.
Yeah, and no. You can tell yourself that, and you might be right from a lot of standpoints. BUT, if I'm looking for an entry level X or Y at whatever company I am recruiting for and there are two resumes on my desk....one did an internship right out of school or got a relevant job, and the other went fishing....guess who I'm calling? |
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Posts: 470
Location: Blaine, MN | that's great... does your hostility end at the applicant who went fishing, or does it encompass all hypothetical potential employees that took a few months to themselves to see the world, travel, knock off some bucket list things, etc?
Edited by short STRIKE 8/31/2017 12:52 PM
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | short STRIKE - 8/31/2017 12:47 PM
that's great... does your prejudice end at the applicant who went fishing, or does it encompass all hypothetical potential employees that took a few months to themselves to see the world, travel, knock off some bucket list things, etc?
It's actually not prejudice, it's business. As much as I DO love giving people an opportunity, employers would much rather have a more ready-made product versus having to train someone from scratch. Is that fair? Probably not, but life isn't fair. We can all bemoan the unfairness about this and other things when it comes to our "work lives" but at the end of the day unless you have a way to not have to work, it's the game you have to play. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | I make as many or more doors open via hobbies as I can with products. In my world of "work" they are a complement |
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Location: Alex or Alek? | Slamr - 8/31/2017 12:35 PM
short STRIKE - 8/31/2017 10:27 AM
If you're still working at 75, you either 1.)really like to work, or 2.) did more things wrong than go fishing for 3 months fresh out of college. I just don't see a 3 month hiatus as the end all, doom and gloom of your potential career earnings, savings, retirement, or success. It's 3 friggin months... 90 days.
Yeah, and no. You can tell yourself that, and you might be right from a lot of standpoints. BUT, if I'm looking for an entry level X or Y at whatever company I am recruiting for and there are two resumes on my desk....one did an internship right out of school or got a relevant job, and the other went fishing....guess who I'm calling?
I might (probably am) be in the minority here, but if I came into a interview for my current employer (I run cad and design bridges) and told them I took 3 months off after school to go fishing and hunting I would have been hired on the spot.
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Posts: 470
Location: Blaine, MN | I Edited my post because prejudice wasn't the proper word to convey my point... I hear ya Slamr,, I, personally, just cant grasp what makes someone that took a few months off less desirable in the hiring process. Success in business can be measured and achieved in a lot different ways... I just happen to not agree completely with the straight and narrow, perceived proper sequence of events (born, school, work, retire, die). Go chase some adventure, go have some fun, if it costs you a job because of it, did you really want to work there anyway? ( I mean part of you did, because you submitted your resume, but you get my point kind of, right?) |
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Posts: 8792
| The first 21 years of your life is basically a vacation. I'd be more inclined to hire the person who hit the ground running after college than the person who decided to extend their vacation another 3 months to do what is perceived by most people as "the closest thing to doing nothing at all..."
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Posts: 921
| I'm 43 and I like to say "I'm living retirement in reverse." I obviously work, but also spend a lot of time fishing, snowmobiling, hunting, etc. I am self-employed so I have a lot more freedom that a typical employee.
I'm saving of course, but I am not super focused working my tail off saving for retirement. I've seen too many people close to me get sick and or die before retirement or right after.
I always say I would rather enjoy what I can now (fishing, snowmobiling, etc.) before my body breaks down and I cannot enjoy it when I'm older.
I will work when I am 70 if I have to. I would rather enjoy the things I can do now, than be 70 sitting on the porch in a rocking chair sipping lemonade and too old to musky fish!
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Posts: 921
| I'm sure if I am working when I am 70, I wish I would've worked harder and saved more when I was young.
Double edged sword.
But there's no guarantee that I will be here tomorrow, let alone 30 years from now! |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | short STRIKE - 8/31/2017 1:36 PM
I Edited my post because prejudice wasn't the proper word to convey my point... I hear ya Slamr,, I, personally, just cant grasp what makes someone that took a few months off less desirable in the hiring process. Success in business can be measured and achieved in a lot different ways... I just happen to not agree completely with the straight and narrow, perceived proper sequence of events (born, school, work, retire, die). Go chase some adventure, go have some fun, if it costs you a job because of it, did you really want to work there anyway? ( I mean part of you did, because you submitted your resume, but you get my point kind of, right?)
i totally agree with you ... my oldest is a Zip Line guide turned Safety High-Line Belay Rescue Certified, Confined Spaces Rescue Cert, HaZMat Cert and heading off to Colorado to work Customer Experience as a Snowboarder in Colorado at Beaver Creek before returning as the GM of the Northwoods Zip Line in the Spring. Based on how he's saved, invested and lives he will have more money after paying his bills than a lot of people who think they do. he's 22 ... my guess is, knowing him ... his "story" will be a pretty cool one once he hits 44 and 54 and 64 because he's driven from within. i've always coached him to "have a story" ... and to live for life experiences. to me those are the really interesting people and the ones i'd never bet against.
if i interviewed you i'd ask you how you funded yourself, where you went, what you did, what problems you faced and how you overcame them.
once hired a young guy based on how he handled an unplanned pregnancy during his college years. he was just 3 years out of school when this happened. when i learned how he took care of his daughter (without a continuing relationship with her mother) i knew i wanted to hire him. i went on to hire him again when i got a big promotion to another gig. he's a senior vice president now and his daughter graduated from College not long ago. they are close and still speak with him monthly and consider him one of my best friends in life. the interview was about 19 years ago.
i'd rather train my own too ...
only good thing to do with a rule book is to throw it out ...
Edited by jonnysled 8/31/2017 3:22 PM
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Posts: 92
| I am totally with Midget on this one...Seen too many people be incapacitated at an early age . Got a Flexible schedule, Great job and fish as much as I possibly can while i am healthy and my body is intact.
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Location: Smith Creek | jonnysled - 8/31/2017 2:24 PM
if i interviewed you i'd ask you how you funded yourself, where you went, what you did, what problems you faced and how you overcame them.
.
What if the interviewee told you he or she spent their time back-trolling muskies and road hunting? |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | Flambeauski - 8/31/2017 3:32 PM
jonnysled - 8/31/2017 2:24 PM
if i interviewed you i'd ask you how you funded yourself, where you went, what you did, what problems you faced and how you overcame them.
.
What if the interviewee told you he or she spent their time back-trolling muskies and road hunting?
that would be telling ...
now, when Aaron Wiebe fixed his impeller at a rustic Canadian landing McGiver style to stay in the competition? ... i'd hire that kid to be my boss!! |
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Location: MN | If I could do it over I'd travel Europe (or wherever interests you) for the summer after college. You can fish your whole life. You probably won't be able to spend a few months traveling and bumming around until you retire....or possibly ever. I think you will make much better and lasting memories doing that than chasing a stupid fish all summer. And that statement is coming from a guy who spends way too much time chasing these stupid fish. |
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Location: Ashland WI | I interview and help hire at my place of employment.
I don't think whether someone went fishing for 3 months after school would weigh into my decision making process either way. Now if someone was more qualified because he served and internship/training/more schooling, that quite possibly makes him more valuable. Still not a guarantee I take that person over the guy who went fishing though. I believe there is so many more important things to look for in a potential hire. |
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Posts: 3150
| This is all a moot point if you just marry rich. |
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| I can give you this...My wife Graduated college. She then went backpacking through Europe that summer. Came back, got a job, while continuing school to get her masters. We married, she soon had our first and she hasn't had a paying job since...that was 17 years ago. Me? yeah, little college and we are still plugging along. Follow what moves you. |
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Posts: 656
Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | A lot of posters are saying something to the effect of; "Work hard now, save your money, retire early, then go fishing." That seems like solid advice that's hard to argue against.
But...
On the other hand, take my deceased wife and I for example. We worked hard and long hours. Tried paying down the mortgage early, hoped to retire early. Then she got brain cancer and died before we could retire. One of the things she said to me when she was sick was; "Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."
Tomorrow is promised to no one.
Edited by fishpoop 9/1/2017 3:02 PM
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | fishpoop - 9/1/2017 2:50 PM
A lot of posters are saying something to the effect of; "Work hard now, save your money, retire early, then go fishing." That seems like solid advice that's hard to argue against.
But...
On the other hand, take my deceased wife and I for example. We worked hard and long hours. Tried paying down the mortgage early, hoped to retire early. Then she got brain cancer and died before we could retire. One of the things she said to me when she was sick was; "Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."
Tomorrow is promised to no one.
Wise words from your wife.
My Dad warned me about "wishing" your life away. Many times we think we think if I just get this bill paid off, or that new boat, or etc., I will be set. |
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | fishpoop - 9/1/2017 2:50 PM
A lot of posters are saying something to the effect of; "Work hard now, save your money, retire early, then go fishing." That seems like solid advice that's hard to argue against.
But...
On the other hand, take my deceased wife and I for example. We worked hard and long hours. Tried paying down the mortgage early, hoped to retire early. Then she got brain cancer and died before we could retire. One of the things she said to me when she was sick was; "Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."
Tomorrow is promised to no one.
Thank you for that. Good reminder day in and day out. |
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| Very well said Paul,,,please come back to the chapter soon,,your missed. |
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Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | 14ledo81 - 9/1/2017 3:52 PM
fishpoop - 9/1/2017 2:50 PM
A lot of posters are saying something to the effect of; "Work hard now, save your money, retire early, then go fishing." That seems like solid advice that's hard to argue against.
But...
On the other hand, take my deceased wife and I for example. We worked hard and long hours. Tried paying down the mortgage early, hoped to retire early. Then she got brain cancer and died before we could retire. One of the things she said to me when she was sick was; "Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."
Tomorrow is promised to no one.
Wise words from your wife.
My Dad warned me about "wishing" your life away. Many times we think we think if I just get this bill paid off, or that new boat, or etc., I will be set.
Thanks, she was a smart lady. Your Dad sounds like he's pretty wise too. |
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Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | happy hooker - 9/1/2017 7:40 PM
Very well said Paul,,,please come back to the chapter soon,,your missed.
Andrew "Slamr" Golden
[email protected]
Thank you for that. Good reminder day in and day out.
@Happy Hooker
Thanks, Brad! I'll be back one of these days. I miss you guys too.
@Slamr
Thanks to you too. It's something we all need reminding of every so often.
Edited by fishpoop 9/2/2017 4:13 AM
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Posts: 245
Location: Madison | This post is really good read. I am in charge of hiring at my company and i recently hired an engineer who had taken a year off after he graduated. He worked his way through college as a bartender. He was able to invest some of that money and used the rest to fund his travels. He is not concerned with materiel things, instead he is all about life experiences, and as sled said having a story to tell. you have to figure out what you want and what will make you happy. You never know what tomorrow will bring, take the time off and enjoy yourself while you can.
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Posts: 43
| This is a fascinating thread. It seems like most people are on one side or the other, get a job, go to work or spend the summer fishing because you never know when you will have that same opportunity again.
I don't think it necessarily has to be one or the other. I graduated from college in May with an accounting degree and I had lined up a full time accounting job that was going to start in the fall (beginning of Sept). That summer I worked from about 8 to 5 painting houses. Then I went muskie fishing every evening after work and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Now I'm married with kids and I still look back on that summer as one of the best of my life. Worked hard, saved some money, and fished every spare moment I had. Also, I caught more muskies that summer than I have any year since then. |
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Posts: 770
| I think the bottom line here is a havibg a job isnt what keeps you from muskie fishing, its other things in life. You can work full time, fish 3 or 4 hours every evening, and easily 20+ jours on the weekends. Once you married, with kids that is pretty tough to do
Edited by T3clay 9/3/2017 11:15 AM
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Life is way shorter than you may think. The distant future is an eyeblink away, and once you are there, the memories you have are the ones you made. |
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Location: Northern Illinois | Well said, Steve. |
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Posts: 1000
| 100% get an internship relevant to your intended career. Saw too many friends do the waiter/waitressing thing between semesters because it paid better. They ended up taking the low-paying internships after they graduated - right when they needed to start paying student loans. Set their earning power back a couple years.
Most internships are part-time, so fish the other 50% of the time. |
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Posts: 1209
| If I didn't buy 4 new motorcycles, 4 new trucks and a new boat but instead kept one of those trucks and my 1998 (used boat of my dreams) I'd be very well off and if I would have purchased a house 5-7 years ago I'd be 100k$ abased of the game. Keep your head on straight and think your large purchases ahead farther than "just making the payment and paying to use them" but what you can do with funds on the other hand not always making payments... |
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Posts: 2024
| Put $5 a day into a retirement fund. Otherwise, live and learn. There's more to life than fishing and work. |
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Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | sworrall - 9/3/2017 12:33 PM
Life is way shorter than you may think. The distant future is an eyeblink away, and once you are there, the memories you have are the ones you made.
Yes, I have to agree with Steve.
The thing about memories are they can bring smiles and tears. I watch muskie fishing videos on youtube and the memories all come back.
I'm not sure where I'm going with this or what my point is. For once I seem to be at a loss for words.
Live a rich full life of experiences and the rest is crap.
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Location: minocqua, wi. | fishpoop - 9/8/2017 5:37 AM
Live a rich full life of experiences and the rest is crap.
^This!!! |
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Posts: 86
| Fallow the
Grateful Dead around for the summer
Oh yea
20 years to late
Edited by tndoug 9/8/2017 7:50 PM
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Location: oswego, il | What wq said, spend it like there is no tomorrow. Kalvin Klein make a buff?
Edited by ToddM 9/9/2017 7:42 AM
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Location: Minnesota. | I almost didn't wanna post this as I didn't want to lead you astray but..if you're the type...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4873620/Woman-travels-van-t... |
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Location: Madison, WI | It's easy to fall into the "once you start working your life is over" mentality but that just isnt the case if you do things right... Start job searching and reaching out to companies now and look for ones that give you the best work/life balance vs income/benefits/job security so that when you graduate you have options. Some people want to make work their life and if that fulfills you then more power to you, but For me, my job will never be my "purpose" or what wakes me up in the morning. With that said, I still work hard at it because it allows me to do the things that make life worth living. If you get a solid job, are single, and dont have kids you can put solid money away and still have TONS of time to go fishing. I was at the same point in life a few years ago and the biggest thing i'd recommend is to not get into the mindset where there is only one path to success/happiness.
once women and kids get involved thats where the story changes |
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| Plan for the future, live in the present.
Take advantage of the health and energy that you have in your youth because it won't always be there.
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| Balance...
Work yourself into the grave with no time for fun = bad
Dedicate your life to play while ignoring your future = bad
Nobody gets to the end of their life and wishes they had spent more time at the office, but there are a lot of folks working into their 70's who really wish they could be fishing instead. |
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Posts: 565
Location: WI | First off, congratulations for putting yourself in the position to ask the question. Seems like u have a good financial head on your shoulder so I won’t lecture on getting a job(although I will say pensions r a pipe dream at your age so don’t base a decision on that.). That said, u have the rest of your life to work and there r no guarantees how long u will live so find a balance. U also have the rest of your life to fish. Life gets busy and u will have less of it to fish but u will make time if u have to. My advice, get in your car and go do things u want to do but normally wouldn’t. That’s the stuff u will run out of time to do. |
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Location: FIB land | "Tomorrow is promised to no one" ... Exactly |
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| I would do it the same. At first school full time year-round while working part time and some fishing. Later, after the graduate degree, work full time and specialized school part time year-round and some fishing. Then, lucrative work full time plus cherry side jobs and some fishing. Now it's all just fishing wherever and whenever I want.
Its harder now than when I ran that race. And someone who worked even harder than I recently gave me a bunch of cash. I wouldn't be secure without my education and job skills and wouldn't have been gifted the cash had I not worked my ass off for 30 years.
Edited by Ranger 1/22/2018 6:10 PM
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Location: Minnesota. | Well acafisherman...what did you glean from all of these posts and experienced replies.
I think you at least respond don't you??? |
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Posts: 785
| Would you rather have 3 months to play now when you're in your 20s or an extra 3 months to play when you are in your 60s? The answer there should be obvious. A lot of people giving safe advice which will help you succeed financially. The one wishing they'd worked more makes me question their judgement a little lol. I did what one is supposed to do and 11 years out of college I will simply say go play my man. Don't drive yourself into the ground but take a few months and bask in the glory that is life. Waiting until your 55-65 to start living life to the fullest has always seemed crazy beyond belief to me. I love very physically demanding hobbies and I live with the realization I WON'T be able to enjoy them when I retire. I spend my time now planning to start my own business so I can have the freedoms to take more time to enjoy life while I'm young (32).
Now for practical advice. Consider camping. Not ultra comfy but it's cheap. Also not terribly inconvenient to set up for longer stays. You can buy a small propane burner you can cook all kinds of good stuff for little to nothing. Just be mindful of having the ability to charge up your boat batteries every day when looking for camping spots. I would tend to have a few stops on the agenda vs staying in one spot all summer. Giving each lake (or lake section) 2 weeks will allow you to learn it very well but not grow bored. I would also try to line up a few people to meet up with you for a week here and there so you don't spend all your time in isolation. If you can afford it I would not have a side job. If that's the case you might as well go find a real job and take a couple weeks vacation. Also if you are into it, now is a good time to take longer road trips out to places like national parks or Alaska. Those become more difficult once your career is in full swing as you must hurry through your available time off rather than being able to enjoy them in full. |
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Location: Duluth | Absolutely go play. I graduated school in the spring of 14' and didn't go to work until October, best decision I ever made. Now I'm 28, always told myself that once I had a job and cash flow that I would really get set up to chase musky. Let me tell you the money and time goes real quick.
From May to October I lived off some money i had saved, and did some odd jobs hear and there (coaching lacrosse camps) that would also take me near fishing opportunities. I havent fished as hard since that summer and haven't landed as many fish or had as much fun goofing off. Almost everyday while I'm sitting at my desk I think about those days. Also the decision had no negative financial impact, just make sure as soon as you do get that "real job" you start socking away as much as you can to give yourself another chance later in life.
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Posts: 241
| "Jeremy - who loves fly fishing more'n a fat kid likes cake! "
I was a fat kid....you have no idea the struggles.
I don't know much about fly fishing
Backdraft
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Posts: 4266
| I didn't go to college. I started working the day after I graduated from high school and fished every weekend and used all of my vacation for fishing. I stayed at that job for over 30 years. Those 30 years of hard work led to the back and body problems that still persist to this day. I rarely fish for muskies now. It is just too hard on me physically, so I find comfortable ways to fish for other, more catchable species. But I fished long hours in all kinds of conditions when I was young. I put up with weekend traffic and weekend pressure for a day and a half of fishing for many years. I was forced to retire when my back pain became chronic and unbearable. It's been more than 10 years, and believe me, I miss the days of my youth when there was always something to do and somewhere to go. My daughter is in college and is staying another year so she can graduate with a double major. I see how hard she works and how little time she has for herself and I feel sorry for her. When I was her age, I had my own place, my own car and a paycheck every other Friday. I worked hard, but I also enjoyed myself. The world was different then. Lots of people I knew didn't go to college because you could go out and find a good paying steady job at one of the manufacturing places around here. Life was good. Those places are either much smaller or gone. The lack of jobs makes it tougher on the graduating class of 2017 than it was for the class of '73. That being said, do what you want. Weigh the choices carefully and then do what you think is right. You only get one shot at this. If my daughter told me that she was taking 3 months off after graduation I would totally understand. When she comes home for visits, we normally spend all of our time relaxing, because that's what she needs. Her school schedule is full and very time consuming. We all need time to decompress and get rid of the stress that plagues everyonel. If you take the 3 months and go fishing, keep your eyes open. You just might find an area or people you like who might offer you guidance and give you insight into what you want to do with the rest of your life. You might find a place where you want to put down roots. Life's an adventure, |
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Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | backdraft - 2/2/2018 11:43 AM
"Jeremy - who loves fly fishing more'n a fat kid likes cake! "
I was a fat kid....you have no idea the struggles.
I don't know much about fly fishing
Backdraft
draft, take a step back and take a deep breath.... All is well.
He didn't mean to insult anybody... I like Cake... No problem.
Lets Fish, and Toast Life ! |
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If you had to do it all again...