TECH... another four letter word...

[buckeyefarmer]

I love technology, I just hate having to go to work every day. :laughing:

 

[300UGUY]

I spent over 30 years in the high tech arena, and it paid for my retirement. Computer networking was my thing, but now I have to call my kids once and and while to find answers for, to them are fairly simple. Yes in most respects I like it, as I am using it to use this form. I wonder where it is all going, with the F-book, texting with all the kids, and the info that Goggle and so forth are gathering about us.

It seems that we can find out anything about almost anything about our lives, on the Internet anymore. Seem like a lot of loss of Privacy.

I think some of the old timers in my town dislike the lack of privacy. Between the EWG database on Government crop subsidies, and the computerized property tax data that is online now, folks know who owns what, and who is getting what in subsidies. A lot of these small towns, a handful of families have locked up most of the property for generations.

 

[Blast Chamber]

Selling computers, and parts is one thing, But, being responsible for the server management, that make a server function on a daily basis, in a business mission critical, production environment, is a horse of a different color...that I just don't desire anymore. I used to enjoy the challenge, now it's drudgery to me. But am I a bit jadded lately. So I appreciate your comments, and am looking forward to a time when I can be as contented with my employment as you are my friend!

I was in the same boat. I spent several years in the late '90s and early 2k's as a systems administrator responsible for 24/7 support. I became burned out, but then thankfully I got downsized. It was a good thing as I found another job in computer electronics that better fit my hands-on skills and didn't trap me in a cubicle all day.

I don't think I could ever go back to systems admin work even though it would pay better. It's just too much stress.

 

[nunyabinis]

I'm with you my friend. I'm currently reading a 57 page white paper detailing techniques on hardening RDP on Winblows Server SBS.


I'm about to lose my mind. Not to mention go blind.


.

 

[jinman]

... I really don't like technology anymore. Is anyone with me? (yes I'm aware that it's internet technology that is the vehicle for my complainaing about technology.) I don't like technology anymore becasue technology is my job and has been for the last seven years. blah! How does one get back to a more Agrarian lifestyle and remain able to pay the mortgage, and all of the other bills?

Before you get back into the agrarian lifestyle, you have to go through a training period. You start that by dragging yourself out of bed before the sun comes up and walk through frozen mud and slush in your back yard while acting like you are feeding cattle, chickens, horses, etc. About every other week, you get up in the middle of the night and start calling veterinarians to find one who will come out and simulate working with a sick animal. At sunrise, you grab a quick meal and then go out to your driveway and drive your car way out into the middle of a field. There, you disassemble the engine on your car and put it back together before noon. Right after a quick lunch, you walk back out there and say, "Okay, let's see if we can get some useful work out of this hunk of junk!" Start the car and drive around in a zig-zag pattern across 10 or 20 acres until the sun goes down, then turn on the headlights and continue for a couple more hours. Walk back to your house where you wife will tell you that the well has stopped pumping and you'll have to eat warmed-up leftovers. Quickly run out to tend the animals and then come back to a cold plate of beans before falling into bed dirty because you can't take a shower. . . Are you beginning to see where I'm going with this? The grass always looks greener on the other side.

Honestly, I think if you don't like your job, you are in the wrong technical field. I loved all my years of working on technology, but I had a wide background. I worked on radar and weapons systems in the US Navy. When I came out, I built aircraft instruments for awhile and then went to work at a University where I maintained their research equipment and helped automate some of their laboratory processes. After that I taught electrical certification classes for people building the F-16 fighter. For the 19 years before retiring, I developed training courses and multimedia used in the ground school training of pilots and maintenance crews. I absolutely loved every job I ever had and only left for more opportunity. I finally retired when my company was purchased by a Canadian firm that was doing all the wrong things that I felt I couldn't support.

I just think that you need to find a way to lead a semi-agrarian lifestyle as a hobby farmer while keeping your job in technology or finding one that appeals more to you. Use the country lifestyle to keep your sanity, but don't lose your mind and think that you'd like to do that 24/7/365. I think farming is one of the most demanding and intensive lifestyles you can have. To be able to tolerate it, you need to have grown up doing it, be educated with an agricultural degree, and be ready to work your butt off in every unbelievable condition that you can imagine. For all that work, you'll have the bank and the government breathing down your neck every second. It's just not for me.

 

[tech141]

Ouch! Why do I find it tough to not take the OP personal???

 

[UpToNoGood]

I find myself thinking the same thing. Sell everything in the city and quit my Tech job and move to the hills and have the simple life. We all know it is not the simple life, but I would feel better at the end of a long day working on my farm vs working 18 hours on an outage with servers down.

The best of both worlds would be living on my property with a good internet connection doing the work I do now. Wait what am I saying, I can VPN and work from anywhere, but my Co won't allow it.

Maybe I could just split wood and sell eggs for a living.

 

[hardtack]

I spent over 30 years in the high tech arena, and it paid for my retirement.

As with Pete, I spent over 30 years working in the computer field. Most of it for NCR. I helped configure, install and update mainframes and mini's all over the midwest. Lots of windshield time involve and being away from home. Now I have 60 acres of woods in Brown County Indiana and the rural life style suits me.

I'd much rather be on one of the tractors or in the workshop making something with my hands than setting at a terminal "surfing". I get a lot more gratification out of doing or making something than working with the abstracts of technology.

I'm not totally into the agrarian lifestyle, but I now enjoy the simpler things in life that bring more personal pleasure now.

Self gratification isn't all it crack up to be.........

 

[feedjake]

Before you get back into the agrarian lifestyle, you have to go through a training period. You start that by dragging yourself out of bed before the sun comes up and walk through frozen mud and slush in your back yard while acting like you are feeding cattle, chickens, horses, etc. About every other week, you get up in the middle of the night and start calling veterinarians to find one who will come out and simulate working with a sick animal. At sunrise, you grab a quick meal and then go out to your driveway and drive your car way out into the middle of a field. There, you disassemble the engine on your car and put it back together before noon. Right after a quick lunch, you walk back out there and say, "Okay, let's see if we can get some useful work out of this hunk of junk!" Start the car and drive around in a zig-zag pattern across 10 or 20 acres until the sun goes down, then turn on the headlights and continue for a couple more hours. Walk back to your house where you wife will tell you that the well has stopped pumping and you'll have to eat warmed-up leftovers. Quickly run out to tend the animals and then come back to a cold plate of beans before falling into bed dirty because you can't take a shower. . . Are you beginning to see where I'm going with this? The grass always looks greener on the other side.

Honestly, I think if you don't like your job, you are in the wrong technical field. I loved all my years of working on technology, but I had a wide background. I worked on radar and weapons systems in the US Navy. When I came out, I built aircraft instruments for awhile and then went to work at a University where I maintained their research equipment and helped automate some of their laboratory processes. After that I taught electrical certification classes for people building the F-16 fighter. For the 19 years before retiring, I developed training courses and multimedia used in the ground school training of pilots and maintenance crews. I absolutely loved every job I ever had and only left for more opportunity. I finally retired when my company was purchased by a Canadian firm that was doing all the wrong things that I felt I couldn't support.

I just think that you need to find a way to lead a semi-agrarian lifestyle as a hobby farmer while keeping your job in technology or finding one that appeals more to you. Use the country lifestyle to keep your sanity, but don't lose your mind and think that you'd like to do that 24/7/365. I think farming is one of the most demanding and intensive lifestyles you can have. To be able to tolerate it, you need to have grown up doing it, be educated with an agricultural degree, and be ready to work your butt off in every unbelievable condition that you can imagine. For all that work, you'll have the bank and the government breathing down your neck every second. It's just not for me.

I hear you loud and clear. I know that I'm nowhere near where Id like to be as far as being ready for a 180 degree turn around.

That痴 why I'm (like you suggested) starting slow. The wife and I had a few hens for a couple of years, until

something got in the coop. Sad, but a hard lesson learned. I've been educating myself a lot lately on small-scale farming. Especially the old way of farming ...with animals. I've never been anything near a mechanic.I would love to learn however. (all in good time) SO Tractors scare me. Especially when they break down, or just won't run, or run very poorly. So I've been reading veraciously about animal husbandry. The wife and kids and I will be starting with dairy goats this summer. (baby steps)



Your advise is well received. I've been seriously been considering my efforts, and where they might lead me. My hopes are bright, and I'm trying to keep them realistic. After about a year of reading, planning, and visiting with small farmers, and family members who are raising cattle, and planning to get into dairy themselves, in MN. Also a very good friend, and advisor who is a retired Ag professor from the Ohio State University, and an old Farm boy himself with roots in MN as well. Not far from my family痴 farm.



My end goal would be to have my own 50 acre's (or more) with plenty of woods to heat my house year after year. A draft horse or two to help me pull the logs out of the woods. Some crop land, plenty of pasture land which to improve, and a creek would be nice. Some gardens. Also I'd probably need a job "in town" to help with everything.



But for now, I知 just getting started, I知 sure my plan will change as I go depending on my experiences. But over-all it comes from within me, a desire to not rely on some corporation to provide me my bi-monthly paycheck (feed pellet) so I can continue to better the company, or help the company get new customers, or keep the old ones. So I can live and pay some OTHER corporation for heating my house, or anything else that I need to pay in order to live, and breathe. I want to be the one who is bettering my situation, and my family痴 situation. I want to be there for my kids as they grow up. I want them to see their Dad work hard, for himself, and see the benefits of that, and the reward that comes when you work hard, and when you work smart.

 

[IndyIan]

Do some research and you can get some experience as well before making the plunge. For example, my buddy always wanted work horses and he took a course one summer, and realized horses are just a bit out of his league right now.
Or you can have a few chickens in your backyard now and get an idea of what it takes to take care one species day in day out. It sounds fun having a full barnyard of critters but having an hour of "chores" to be done every day isn't what alot of people are used to anymore year in and year out.