Ok. I only post this because there are intelectual people here that I can talk to about it, and ask advice.

I don't like my job. My job, brings me money. Probably more money than I could anywhere else given my level of education. (Highschool graduate, little college)

I hate LA. Every guy I see having a selfish conversation with some wannabe model, and then gets into his BMW, while by his words and actions I can tell that he's never REALLY done much HARD work, and has a complete disrespect for those who don't have as much money or at least such an education, I have a problem with. And that's a LOT of guys here.

I have many more problems with this place than that. Nearly no wilderness, extremely high prices for places to live... so you have to throw away money by RENTING, OLD MONEY.

Basically me and my wife want to move back to Michigan, so we need the money to do so.
But I have a problem. I can't work anymore. I've become so disgusted by the company for which I work, (this isn't the first time this has happened to me) that I physically rebel. I don't show up, or show up very late. I downtalk the company to other coworkers (of course only sighting not one persons flaws, but the companies ongoing or new campaignes to deny us of commissions),

I may get fired soon, and that's fine with me, not my wife though, and she knows I hate it, but without money we won't be able to set up anywhere.

What do I do?

Keep the job or find another, less paying job and spend more time here?

Sorry if this is a personal question... but I don't have much elsewhere to turn to.

I understand and honestly feel for you (see I do have emotions!) Since you cannot control the amount of income, or to put it better you have less control over the amount of income than you do over the out go, then control the out go. Think about what it really takes to live. Think about what is really necessary. Do you need to eat out? Do you need cable television? Do you need that new shirt or high end shoes? These are purely rhetorical questions that you need only answer to and for yourself. If you can cut your expenses, and we all can stand to cut our expenses, then you have more options.

That is the simple answer, the hard part is seeing where you can cut. I mentioned some obvious areas where most people waste money they do not have, but there are more, some obvious like credit cards and cars, others less so. Once we cut out the nonsense and waste from our lives it is surprising just how little income we need to live. Sure this means that other people are going to be doing "more and better" things than you, but ask yourself, are they seeking the same result that you are? If not then they are like the person who is goin 100 miles an hour heading south while you are stuck doing 50 heading east. They might be making great time, but they are not going where you want to go.

If you need a one time burst of cash, look to what you have that you do not need. Sell old books, clothes, household items, etc. Sell DVDs, CDs, and the like. Get that burst of cash, make your move.

You might consider looking in the library for a book called How to Survive without a Salary by Charles Long. He does far more than merely survive without a salary, he takes his family on European vacations and the like, but he makes clear that he makes the choices that make such things possible. The book gives a great deal of good advice about cutting expensives and living what he calls a conserver lifestyle. All this means is that rather than being wasteful and careless with your time and money, you learn to be frugal and make thoughful choices as to where you want to invest your time or spend your money. BTW the book can be bought as well, as I did because I simply love books and do not like to give up books I have appreciated, but I mention the library option so that the information can be found free of charge. And that is one of the ideas from the book itself..

If I may be so bold, it sounds like you are on a treadmill and when a change comes you jump from one treadmill to another. Perhaps it is time to consider a different approach? There is a reason most jobs are called "dead ends"... they simply do not get you to where you want to be in life.

It is possible to get where you want to be without lots of money. I do not care to reveal much about myself usually, but let me offer myself as an example. My income (not a salary btw) is far below the national average, in fact it is far below the poverty line. To make matters worse, while I do not live on the coasts I do live in an expensive city. That said, I fully expect through some thorough planning and deliberate choices to build at least one house in an area where I want to live, and do so for under $10,000. That is my worst case scenario. More likely I will have two houses in two areas I like, with the combined total being just over $10,000.

Now to get to that point I have to make some tough choices. The most obvious, and least revealing, is that I will be doing all of the work myself. I am trading my time for freedom. There are many other choices I have made and will have to make, some easier than others, but I know that I will reach my goal because i am determined and realize that you cannot get to those high places you mention without climbing the mountain first..

One last thought, make sure you are on a journey not merely seeking a destination.

I hope that helps some, or at least gives you some ideas.

TXStorm

It DOES help...

mmm... at the beginning of your response I must say, if you did not know before... we have been poorer than most Americans have. This so far, is the peak of our marriages wealth... we own the mattress on which we sleep. We don't go out to eat, nor do we buy clothes on a regular basis, I infact am quite picky when it comes to my own clothes and therefore have holes all over shirts and what not (something my wife finds strange). We have no cable, bunny ears actually. And my computer is a gift, over six years old... from graduation.
Cutting expenses means NOT eating. (We have practiced eating rice for weeks, trust me... it gets annoying.) Roman noodles however, we add things and it's okay.

I'm not looking for sympathy, I myself have been in worse situations, (and when I hear people complaining about "being poor" I sometimes sigh) but since then I've realized, nobody should be in such situations and I'd never wish uppon my wife these things.
Ah, further... we have no credit cards, and no car.

"Sure this means that other people are going to be doing "more and better" things than you, but ask yourself, are they seeking the same result that you are?"

This is another problem... I am damn sure that I want to go back home and make a movie, after that however, I have no idea (exept that I want to be with my wife) and I am afraid of what that might mean for any children we have. In otherwords, as far as long term goals for myself, I have no idea. I want to help people, yes. There are many ways to do this, yes. But I seem uncompitent enough to help myself, and it's beginning to look like it's too late to even start.

" How to Survive without a Salary by Charles Long" I'll definatley look for this one.


As far as building a house for less than $10,000 that means doing basically ALL of the work yourself. My dad builds houses for a living... I've helped... that's a lot of work and props to your own employment as the housebuilder. Many of us Americans are too afraid or, for the most part lazy to take on such a task, even though such a task would grant us freedoms not only that of the financial aspect, but that of knowing every inch of the house in which we live, how it works, and that WE OURSELVES BUILT IT.

The last one is the journey.

I don't know where to end. I don't figure that most people do. I know that I want kids, and I want them to have a yard to play in, not a concrete neighborhood in which to avoid strangers. I know that I want them to know more than what the schools teach them. (Not just my wife's native language as well as mine either) But a destination is strange. The only destination location wise is back to Michigan. This is only because I have friends and family there, and Japan is more than expensive when it comes to owning ones own house. I know the situation there... no fucking jobs more than minimum wage, or.. bartender. (no problem with the latter, but the alcohol issue)
I just really want to live in a HOUSE with more space than this apartment, have a yard with a dog to play in, with my kids (or kid) a sprinkler maybe. Some decorations that I curse when I have to work to put up, but enjoy the fact that I put them up when I look back at them. Not having to worry about crackheads jumping me for the five bucks I have with me while I walk at night. I don't care what kind of income I make, as long as I can make one and have a house near the woods.

I gues, I am on a not just on a journey (I've been on one for awhile now) but trying to find a destination... I just can't realize what that destination is.

Reminds me of the fact that I can't find the end of any story I write.