Howdy,

I'm coming up on a year out from CG retirement, I'm working as a Railroad supervisor trainee, after which I'll be transfered to wherever the railroad decides to send me. Meanwhile I'm Geobachelor 2 months into a 6 month training billet. The railroad seems like being in the service in some ways, pay is salary, hours are about 60 hours a week. Unlike the military, they guys up the food chain work 70 hours a week. The pay is decent, $45k annually during training and $52k after six months.

My other option is to go back to school for something in the medical field, (nursing, Rad tech, Resp therapist, etc). I get the GI bill, plus the Army college fund (previous to CG I was in Army) and I paid for the extra $5200 kicker.

I don't have any bills and have a good amount of cash in the bank, no house though(could pay cash for a modest home in TN/SC/NC or another lower cost area).

Any advice? I asked a few months ago about if I should take this job and now that I have, it's not too bad, but I don't know if a 60-70 week salary job is what I want in life anymore.

And I finally understand what all the other retirees told me....do 30 years...If I had to do it over, I think I would have.

Tony

I too retired after 20...Never even thought of a 30 year deal, mostly because my wife has a career that needed some stability (read one place for several years)to take off...Been retired 14 years and never regretted it...

My first long time job after retirement was with the State of Nevada DOT...40 hour workweek in the summer but lots of overtime in the winter...Due usually to snow...I really liked doing it...

But for the last 5+ years I have been in a school system where I work only 182 days a year...It's absolutely great...I would never put myself into a position to work a lot of hours again...

I've been fortunate to have jobs I really liked since I retired...If you really enjoy what you do and it doesn't cause any heartburn with your family, I would say go for it...

But since your putting it out there for others to see, I'm just thinking maybe your not that happy...As you get older, the 60-70 hour weeks will wear on you...Your young enough to try something new...I would say if you can afford to, go to school and find something you will enjoy doing for another maybe 20 years...

As far as thinking you should have done 30, don't be too hard on yourself....You did what you did was right...Stick with it, don't look back and go on...Just my thoughts..

Gunk

Thanks for the reply, what I told myself when I retired was that I wanted a job that worked 4 days per week and I could take time off in the summer to travel, etc. Sounds like you have my job

What kind of job at a school district would you recommend?

Tony

Life is short... & ya can't take the money with ya....

Wray....

Hey Tony...What works for me may not for you...For me anyway, money is not that important...My wife is the bread winner now...

As far as my job goes, I am what is called a Campus Supervisor...Some would call it just a glorified hall monitor...In Modesto where I live, all middle schools and high schools have their own dedicated policeman...We are kind of like the buffer between them and the school...

I have an actual classroom that we keep the "detention" kids in...If a kid is suspended just for a period or as much as 5 days, we take care of them...I say we because at my school there are two of us...At least two at every shool in Modesto...I spend 3 periods out of 7 in the classroom and so does the other CS...We have hired temps come in for some of the day...We just roam the campus and investigate any other problems we may be having...Our predominent problem in Modesto is gangs...With the occasional exception of a high-five or fight, we never touch the kids. We enforce dress codes a getting to class on time...

Unless you are going to get a teaching credential (I don't want to teach), you would be a "Classified Employee"...Teachers and Administrators are "Certificated"...

In the town you would like to work in, there might be an on-line job employment process...For instance, if you look up Modesto City Schools under Employment, you would get a listing of all available jobs for the moment...

I actually only worked 4.5 hours a day for my first 3 years and it worked into a full time 8 hour 182 day a year job...I was fine with the 4.5 but they asked me to work more...The great thing is if the kids aren't in school (read Christmas, Easter, Summer) I don't work...Works out great for vacations...This year was Hawaii and Alaska...

There are a lot of different "Classified" positions...Office help, Cafeteria help, Custodians, Warehousing and just too many to list...So check in your area, you may be surprised...Don't forget to check the City, County and State job hotlines...Pay may not be that great, but it can get better...

As far as pay goes, I believe I'm at about 16.00 an hour this year...That's enough for me...I get great benefits...

Good luck to you...

Gunk

Go to school. You only have ten years from last separation to use GI Bill. If it turns out you'd rather work for the RR, you can always go back (as long as you don't announce your resignation by pissing on the boss' desk or something like that).

If you don't go, you may regret it when it's too late to use the GI Bill.

quote:

Originally posted by Wray:
Life is short... & ya can't take the money with ya....

Wray....

True Wray, but if you get divorced in the 16th Circuit, State of Florida (Monroe County) with a vindicative female judge she'll make sure to allot all your retirement to your ex...1/2 for former spouse protection act and 1/2 in alimony...for life. I ought to create a web blog and tell my story about it sometime! Try being found in contempt of court 4 times in two years and ordered to be held in the Monroe County Jail an aggregate total of 24 months. Didn't serve a day - nor should I - amazing tht an ex could lie to the court and still take you to the cleaners.

Go to School...use that GI Bill!

And nothing says you can't attend courses, face-to-face or online, while getting paid by the railroad. That may set you up nicely to start seeking other employment. It would be a desired credential regardless.