What's the stupidest thing you're lusting after right now?

[2Birds1Stone]

Saw a Marketplace listing for a $500 electric Honqui van. Is it street legal where I live? Uh, kinda sorta maybe? Probably not but it's unlikely the law would be enforced?   It just looks like so much FUN.

Related lust: A Kei truck.

I want a Kei truck so bad...

These are EVERYWHERE here in SE Asia, it's fun to see how much they get loaded up with, very utilitarian and fits in the same spot as a Honda Fit.

[Just Joe]

Saw a Marketplace listing for a $500 electric Honqui van. Is it street legal where I live? Uh, kinda sorta maybe? Probably not but it's unlikely the law would be enforced?   It just looks like so much FUN.

Related lust: A Kei truck.

I want a Kei truck so bad...

I have a coworker that daily drives one to work. Good truck apparently.

[jeroly]

The pans are fantastic and glad we invested in them. No idea if the cast iron would add more iron to the hubs blood but not taking any chances. The cost of the pans is expensive but if it helps with the hubs health, it is well worth it.

We have low iron in my family and I have looked into ways to increase it - there is research showing that cooking in cast iron does increase iron content in food, and they measured significant amounts with certain foods that were more acidic. I think it is the right decision with that condition! Health is definitely worth more than a one time purchase of pots and pans.

I wish we could just trade blood, LOL. My mom has to get IV iron infusions.

Maybe you could just trade pans?

[jinga nation]

Oh and anyways, currently lusting over a new car here. I’ve got an intermittent driveline noise that is making me crazy. I’m ready to either light the fucking thing on fire and get a new car or just spend $5000 replacing everything that moves underneath the car so I don’t have to take it to a mechanic just for them to say, “Gee, I didn’t really hear what you’re talking about, that thing drives great”.

The latter is the more likely option but I can’t discount the appeal of fire.

Exhaust heat shield? My ancient Honda has started with heat shield rattles this month. I'm living with it until the weather improves and then I'll DIY a solution. Maybe MIG the two halves of the clamshell heat shield together if the bolts won't do their job correctly anymore.

Tie wire can actually last for years.

Reading this convo is Car Talk.... caller describing their problem and the Tappet Brothers discussing it. Just need the jokes and guffawing.

[jinga nation]

What's also funny is that I was having unstable Internet for the last month and fighting with my service provider to fix it, and eventually even cancelled my service and started with a new company.

Turns out the connectivity problem was also the motherboard, lol.

Good old OSI Layer 1 problem.

I want a small, manual transmission project car. But for reasons I don't comprehend, they are more expensive on a bunch of sites than buying regular cars with automatic transmissions. Also, I don't know why I want a project car. I have enough stuff breaking around the home that keeps me busy.

You need a Miata. That'll keep you busy with upgrades and custom options. ;)

Yup. I've posted about it in the past. The NA 94-97 is what I want, but prices are stupid effing high here in 'Murica's Schlong, all year long. NB and NC too. Plus it is an easy car to modify, used for track racing, etc, so every racer and their mom wants one. Very common to see at local racetracks and in Sebring FL.
Otherwise I'll take a Honda S2000 but those are harder to find.

[sonofsven]

Oh and anyways, currently lusting over a new car here. I’ve got an intermittent driveline noise that is making me crazy. I’m ready to either light the fucking thing on fire and get a new car or just spend $5000 replacing everything that moves underneath the car so I don’t have to take it to a mechanic just for them to say, “Gee, I didn’t really hear what you’re talking about, that thing drives great”.

The latter is the more likely option but I can’t discount the appeal of fire.

Exhaust heat shield? My ancient Honda has started with heat shield rattles this month. I'm living with it until the weather improves and then I'll DIY a solution. Maybe MIG the two halves of the clamshell heat shield together if the bolts won't do their job correctly anymore.

Tie wire can actually last for years.

Reading this convo is Car Talk.... caller describing their problem and the Tappet Brothers discussing it. Just need the jokes and guffawing.

Fave bumper sticker:
I'm not laughing at you, I'm listening to Car Talk

[couponvan]

I just got tickets to the Dulles Expo Le Creuset Factory to Table sale in June, with access to a Mystery Box for $50 that has a random $350 amount of product in in.  It's totally stupid, but I'm super excited.  I've made about 5 different soups and recipes in the smaller round oven I bought at the outlet, including beef bourguignon that turned out amazing.  There's a restaurant that charges $42 for theirs, so because I made 4 servings, I think I recouped my costs vs buying it at the restaurant. MMM math says I should have gotten the pan used.  I know, I know.  That's why this is in the stupidest thing I am lusting after thread.

[FIREin2018]

My Uber driver had this.
It's a battery charger that connects directly to the phone.
The battery type is 18650, which I have plenty of because long range  flashlights.

eBay has it for like $9.
A double 18650 battery charger that needs a separate USB cable to connect to phone is only $3.

Yeah it's stupid to spend 3x for 1/2 the charge capability but it's the convenience.

Edit:
Thinking more about it, nah on basically paying 6x for the convenience.
I'll stick to the $3 double 18650 battery charger

[Feivel2000]

Yeah it's stupid to spend 3x for 1/2 the charge capability but it's the convenience.

Edit:
Thinking more about it, nah on basically paying 6x for the convenience.
I'll stick to the $3 double 18650 battery charger

What convenience? The convenience to use throw away items for a constant task? Why not using a power bank?

I think I am missing something here.

[zolotiyeruki]

Yeah it's stupid to spend 3x for 1/2 the charge capability but it's the convenience.

Edit:
Thinking more about it, nah on basically paying 6x for the convenience.
I'll stick to the $3 double 18650 battery charger

What convenience? The convenience to use throw away items for a constant task? Why not using a power bank?

I think I am missing something here.

It's rechargeable, not a throw-away item.  The convenience is having a power bank that plugs directly into the phone, instead of requiring a cable.

[rothwem]

Oh and anyways, currently lusting over a new car here. I’ve got an intermittent driveline noise that is making me crazy. I’m ready to either light the fucking thing on fire and get a new car or just spend $5000 replacing everything that moves underneath the car so I don’t have to take it to a mechanic just for them to say, “Gee, I didn’t really hear what you’re talking about, that thing drives great”.

The latter is the more likely option but I can’t discount the appeal of fire.

Exhaust heat shield? My ancient Honda has started with heat shield rattles this month. I'm living with it until the weather improves and then I'll DIY a solution. Maybe MIG the two halves of the clamshell heat shield together if the bolts won't do their job correctly anymore.

Tie wire can actually last for years.

Reading this convo is Car Talk.... caller describing their problem and the Tappet Brothers discussing it. Just need the jokes and guffawing.

Hahah, man. I remember listening to click and clack when I was a kid. Good times.

And nah, it’s not a heat shield rattle, it’s this stupid woodpecker sound that increases in speed as the car goes faster. I’ve replaced both CV axles, which is what I was *sure* the issue was. Now I’m wondering if it’s the differential, center support bearing or flex disc. I had a mechanic suggest it was the ebrake components rattling so I took that apart and it seemed fine so I put it back together.

It only happens when the car is very warm, like after a longish highway drive.

Oh and it goes away for a week or so if I completely unload the suspension. So every time I’ve taken it to a shop where they put it on a lift and wiggle stuff and charge me $100, it’s completely gone for a week.

The fire option is looking really appealing.

[Dancin'Dog]

Oh and anyways, currently lusting over a new car here. I’ve got an intermittent driveline noise that is making me crazy. I’m ready to either light the fucking thing on fire and get a new car or just spend $5000 replacing everything that moves underneath the car so I don’t have to take it to a mechanic just for them to say, “Gee, I didn’t really hear what you’re talking about, that thing drives great”.

The latter is the more likely option but I can’t discount the appeal of fire.

Exhaust heat shield? My ancient Honda has started with heat shield rattles this month. I'm living with it until the weather improves and then I'll DIY a solution. Maybe MIG the two halves of the clamshell heat shield together if the bolts won't do their job correctly anymore.

Tie wire can actually last for years.

Reading this convo is Car Talk.... caller describing their problem and the Tappet Brothers discussing it. Just need the jokes and guffawing.

Hahah, man. I remember listening to click and clack when I was a kid. Good times.

And nah, it’s not a heat shield rattle, it’s this stupid woodpecker sound that increases in speed as the car goes faster. I’ve replaced both CV axles, which is what I was *sure* the issue was. Now I’m wondering if it’s the differential, center support bearing or flex disc. I had a mechanic suggest it was the ebrake components rattling so I took that apart and it seemed fine so I put it back together.

It only happens when the car is very warm, like after a longish highway drive.

Oh and it goes away for a week or so if I completely unload the suspension. So every time I’ve taken it to a shop where they put it on a lift and wiggle stuff and charge me $100, it’s completely gone for a week.

The fire option is looking really appealing.

Just turn up the radio. ;) 

[FIREin2018]

Saw my Uber driver have this battery charger that connects directly to the phone without needing a usb cable.
She didn't speak much english so i couldnt find out where she got it.

I want the 18650 lithium battery version.
I have lots of 18650 batteries because i used to collect bang for the buck flashlights with lots of throw.

I think this is it ($8):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/386727471374

But a 2 battery pack case that requires a usb cable is $2:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/355403700995

I think i'm going to order the $2 one.
The price of convienience is not worth 4x

[Just Joe]

Oh and anyways, currently lusting over a new car here. I’ve got an intermittent driveline noise that is making me crazy. I’m ready to either light the fucking thing on fire and get a new car or just spend $5000 replacing everything that moves underneath the car so I don’t have to take it to a mechanic just for them to say, “Gee, I didn’t really hear what you’re talking about, that thing drives great”.

The latter is the more likely option but I can’t discount the appeal of fire.

Exhaust heat shield? My ancient Honda has started with heat shield rattles this month. I'm living with it until the weather improves and then I'll DIY a solution. Maybe MIG the two halves of the clamshell heat shield together if the bolts won't do their job correctly anymore.

Tie wire can actually last for years.

Reading this convo is Car Talk.... caller describing their problem and the Tappet Brothers discussing it. Just need the jokes and guffawing.

Hahah, man. I remember listening to click and clack when I was a kid. Good times.

And nah, it’s not a heat shield rattle, it’s this stupid woodpecker sound that increases in speed as the car goes faster. I’ve replaced both CV axles, which is what I was *sure* the issue was. Now I’m wondering if it’s the differential, center support bearing or flex disc. I had a mechanic suggest it was the ebrake components rattling so I took that apart and it seemed fine so I put it back together.

It only happens when the car is very warm, like after a longish highway drive.

Oh and it goes away for a week or so if I completely unload the suspension. So every time I’ve taken it to a shop where they put it on a lift and wiggle stuff and charge me $100, it’s completely gone for a week.

The fire option is looking really appealing.

You just need to add a low jump to your weekly commute. You know, 12 inches off the ground, 4ft (length) of air time. ;)

Wondering if it is the catalytic converter honeycomb rattling in the can. Back in the 1980s I had a car with that problem.

[Just Joe]

Saw my Uber driver have this battery charger that connects directly to the phone without needing a usb cable.
She didn't speak much english so i couldnt find out where she got it.

Why not just plug into the car's USB port or buy a little power port charger adapter?

[GuitarStv]

Saw my Uber driver have this battery charger that connects directly to the phone without needing a usb cable.
She didn't speak much english so i couldnt find out where she got it.

Why not just plug into the car's USB port or buy a little power port charger adapter?

Yeah, you can pick up those cigarette lighter -> USB chargers for under 10$.

[FIREin2018]

Saw my Uber driver have this battery charger that connects directly to the phone without needing a usb cable.
She didn't speak much english so i couldnt find out where she got it.

Why not just plug into the car's USB port or buy a little power port charger adapter?

For when I can't find an outlet to charge. Ie: on the move
Yes, power bricks and use USB cable.. I said empty case was $2 in my post. I supply two 18650 lithium batteries

[crocheted_stache]

An Onyx BOOX tablet.

A visitor had one today, and despite spending too-large parts of my days shuttling from screen to screen, when I'm not shuttling the devices around on my bike, I kind of want to see if this gadget could be the right thing to take the place of all the scraps of paper I still use.

I didn't know this object existed before today, and I don't really know what need it would fill that a $3 paper notebook would not.

What about a Rocket notebook?

I've seen and contemplated that and the Bamboo, among other things, and the more I learn about the BOOX, the more I like it, I think. It would be compatible with the e-books I already have and don't love reading on my phone, and would let me mark up documents I download.

I asked someone I know with a tablet habit, and it turns out he already has one of these, so I have asked to do a test drive, but unless it really disappoints or has some feature that drives me up a wall, I think I may just give in and get one. It's not going to bust my budget, and it's pretty rare that I make splurge or impulse purchases.

I have the big expensive A4 Boox reader. This paid for itself quickly because I wanted to read a bunch of tech/math books and papers that are free online ( typeset for large format) but expensive to buy or print on paper.

Maybe a smaller ipad with good zoom capability would have been a more economical approach, I'm not sure.

I don't use it for note taking though, prefer paper notepad.

I've now gotten to borrow one for a couple weeks. @bobble is right. It's far more attractive as a reader than as a notebook, although it does better than I expected at reading my haphazard handwriting. I've ended up borrowing it for longer than I thought, partly because I got into a book and kept right on going. Having lately also finished an entire book on my phone screen (oof!), I must say, I like the e-ink.

I'm hoping it's partly because the one I am borrowing is a little older, but it's a little sluggish changing between things, and there is a lot of whatever the e-ink equivalent of burn-in is. For note-taking, I'm afraid scraps of paper are simply more available most of the time I'm at home.

I'm going to hang onto the borrowed one for as long as the owner lets me and see if I still use it after the novelty wears off and if I get into writing or drawing on it. I'm also making my way through various different sources of reading material and e-books, checking for compatibility and legibility. So far, so good.

[ditheca]

The stupidest thing I'm lusting after right now is more education.

I've gotten too good at computers. Software development and IT feel so unrewarding. I could retire in four years if I keep grinding, but I really, really want to quit immediately and go to school full-time. Learn how to be a doctor or engineer.

Doctor would add eight extra years of study/work... but I'd have a grand adventure on the way there. It could also give me better volunteer opportunities in retirement.

[Metalcat]

The stupidest thing I'm lusting after right now is more education.

I've gotten too good at computers. Software development and IT feel so unrewarding. I could retire in four years if I keep grinding, but I really, really want to quit immediately and go to school full-time. Learn how to be a doctor or engineer.

Doctor would add eight extra years of study/work... but I'd have a grand adventure on the way there. It could also give me better volunteer opportunities in retirement.

I'm just finishing up another graduate degree and I've found the process much more difficult than I expected to.

I love learning and writing papers, the actual education part has been easy and fun, what has been most difficult is dealing with faculty.

When I was in my early 20s, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, riddled with imposter syndrome, and very keen to impress faculty, it was easy to see them as there impressive figures worthy of the egos they sported.

Then I spent a few years in academic research and found them all to be a bunch of overgrown children, then I did my own doctorate, then built my own career as a medical professional and got spoiled by elite continuing education institutions that educate you while treating you like solid gold because you're paying $1000-2000/day for the privilege.

Going back to school has been...interesting.

My classmates are still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, riddled with imposter syndrome and eager as fuck to impress our faculty, some of whom have tragic egos that absolutely depend on being worshipped by students.

I have an instructor right now for 8 months who she and I are basically engaged in mutual psychological warfare for hours at a time because we fucking HATE each other. I despise her because she's a power tripping loser who doesn't believe in letting students go to the bathroom (not even joking) and she can't stand me because I don't kiss the ring.

I've been fortunate, most of my program has been distance education and my interaction with faculty has been blessedly minimal, I just read and write papers and essentially teach myself, which is perfect for me. I'm in my practicum portion of school, so this is the one time I need to interact extensively with faculty face-to-face.

And it's more than I can tolerate.

It's just really fucking hard to be a fully autonomous, accomplished, grown ass fucking adult and be treated like a drooling moron toddler who literally needs their potty habits policed.

There was another degree I fully intended to pursue, but honestly, after this 2.5 year process, I don't have another one in me. It's sad because I have all the motivation to keep learning. Papers, exams, presentations, projects, whatever. I can do that shit in my sleep now after 14 years of university.

I just can't tolerate being treated with disrespect day in and day out. I don't have the capacity for it anymore.

That's just me. Maybe you can navigate that kind of BS just fine. I just wanted to share as someone who just a few years ago was super jazzed to jump back into school and debating a master's vs a doctorate, but I did not expect to be ready to claw my own eyes out to get away from this insufferable nonsense.

It's really too bad because I otherwise very much enjoy school and it's so cheap up here in Canada.

[rothwem]

The stupidest thing I'm lusting after right now is more education.

I've gotten too good at computers. Software development and IT feel so unrewarding. I could retire in four years if I keep grinding, but I really, really want to quit immediately and go to school full-time. Learn how to be a doctor or engineer.

Doctor would add eight extra years of study/work... but I'd have a grand adventure on the way there. It could also give me better volunteer opportunities in retirement.

I'm just finishing up another graduate degree and I've found the process much more difficult than I expected to.

I love learning and writing papers, the actual education part has been easy and fun, what has been most difficult is dealing with faculty.

When I was in my early 20s, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, riddled with imposter syndrome, and very keen to impress faculty, it was easy to see them as there impressive figures worthy of the egos they sported.

Then I spent a few years in academic research and found them all to be a bunch of overgrown children, then I did my own doctorate, then built my own career as a medical professional and got spoiled by elite continuing education institutions that educate you while treating you like solid gold because you're paying $1000-2000/day for the privilege.

Going back to school has been...interesting.

My classmates are still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, riddled with imposter syndrome and eager as fuck to impress our faculty, some of whom have tragic egos that absolutely depend on being worshipped by students.

I have an instructor right now for 8 months who she and I are basically engaged in mutual psychological warfare for hours at a time because we fucking HATE each other. I despise her because she's a power tripping loser who doesn't believe in letting students go to the bathroom (not even joking) and she can't stand me because I don't kiss the ring.

I've been fortunate, most of my program has been distance education and my interaction with faculty has been blessedly minimal, I just read and write papers and essentially teach myself, which is perfect for me. I'm in my practicum portion of school, so this is the one time I need to interact extensively with faculty face-to-face.

And it's more than I can tolerate.

It's just really fucking hard to be a fully autonomous, accomplished, grown ass fucking adult and be treated like a drooling moron toddler who literally needs their potty habits policed.

There was another degree I fully intended to pursue, but honestly, after this 2.5 year process, I don't have another one in me. It's sad because I have all the motivation to keep learning. Papers, exams, presentations, projects, whatever. I can do that shit in my sleep now after 14 years of university.

I just can't tolerate being treated with disrespect day in and day out. I don't have the capacity for it anymore.

That's just me. Maybe you can navigate that kind of BS just fine. I just wanted to share as someone who just a few years ago was super jazzed to jump back into school and debating a master's vs a doctorate, but I did not expect to be ready to claw my own eyes out to get away from this insufferable nonsense.

It's really too bad because I otherwise very much enjoy school and it's so cheap up here in Canada.

When I was in college, there was this guy in my class that had worked as a welder for a decade plus before coming to college to get his Materials Science and Engineering degree. He was a bright guy, just didn’t have rich parents and wasn’t encouraged to go to college after High School. He did quite well for himself as a welder, ran a crew in the Alaska oil fields before coming back to school. He had the exact same problem you have. He was used to being the leader, and having professors talk to him like a 19 year old drove him nuts.

So with that said, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but it sounds like it’s you that needs to check your ego. Why bother confronting these people? You’re there to learn, not influence the live of your professors. You don’t need to be the leader. In fact, you trying to be a leader is disruptive to everyone else trying to learn.

It wasn’t until the welder guy figured out that the professors knew more than him about the science of welding that he chilled out and let the professors teach. Yeah, he might know more about life, running a business, being tough etc etc but the professors are there to teach a very narrow specific topic. Let them do it.

[Metalcat]

The stupidest thing I'm lusting after right now is more education.

I've gotten too good at computers. Software development and IT feel so unrewarding. I could retire in four years if I keep grinding, but I really, really want to quit immediately and go to school full-time. Learn how to be a doctor or engineer.

Doctor would add eight extra years of study/work... but I'd have a grand adventure on the way there. It could also give me better volunteer opportunities in retirement.

I'm just finishing up another graduate degree and I've found the process much more difficult than I expected to.

I love learning and writing papers, the actual education part has been easy and fun, what has been most difficult is dealing with faculty.

When I was in my early 20s, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, riddled with imposter syndrome, and very keen to impress faculty, it was easy to see them as there impressive figures worthy of the egos they sported.

Then I spent a few years in academic research and found them all to be a bunch of overgrown children, then I did my own doctorate, then built my own career as a medical professional and got spoiled by elite continuing education institutions that educate you while treating you like solid gold because you're paying $1000-2000/day for the privilege.

Going back to school has been...interesting.

My classmates are still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, riddled with imposter syndrome and eager as fuck to impress our faculty, some of whom have tragic egos that absolutely depend on being worshipped by students.

I have an instructor right now for 8 months who she and I are basically engaged in mutual psychological warfare for hours at a time because we fucking HATE each other. I despise her because she's a power tripping loser who doesn't believe in letting students go to the bathroom (not even joking) and she can't stand me because I don't kiss the ring.

I've been fortunate, most of my program has been distance education and my interaction with faculty has been blessedly minimal, I just read and write papers and essentially teach myself, which is perfect for me. I'm in my practicum portion of school, so this is the one time I need to interact extensively with faculty face-to-face.

And it's more than I can tolerate.

It's just really fucking hard to be a fully autonomous, accomplished, grown ass fucking adult and be treated like a drooling moron toddler who literally needs their potty habits policed.

There was another degree I fully intended to pursue, but honestly, after this 2.5 year process, I don't have another one in me. It's sad because I have all the motivation to keep learning. Papers, exams, presentations, projects, whatever. I can do that shit in my sleep now after 14 years of university.

I just can't tolerate being treated with disrespect day in and day out. I don't have the capacity for it anymore.

That's just me. Maybe you can navigate that kind of BS just fine. I just wanted to share as someone who just a few years ago was super jazzed to jump back into school and debating a master's vs a doctorate, but I did not expect to be ready to claw my own eyes out to get away from this insufferable nonsense.

It's really too bad because I otherwise very much enjoy school and it's so cheap up here in Canada.

When I was in college, there was this guy in my class that had worked as a welder for a decade plus before coming to college to get his Materials Science and Engineering degree. He was a bright guy, just didn’t have rich parents and wasn’t encouraged to go to college after High School. He did quite well for himself as a welder, ran a crew in the Alaska oil fields before coming back to school. He had the exact same problem you have. He was used to being the leader, and having professors talk to him like a 19 year old drove him nuts.

So with that said, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but it sounds like it’s you that needs to check your ego. Why bother confronting these people? You’re there to learn, not influence the live of your professors. You don’t need to be the leader. In fact, you trying to be a leader is disruptive to everyone else trying to learn.

It wasn’t until the welder guy figured out that the professors knew more than him about the science of welding that he chilled out and let the professors teach. Yeah, he might know more about life, running a business, being tough etc etc but the professors are there to teach a very narrow specific topic. Let them do it.

K...interesting assumptions to make based on my post.

As I said, this is my 14th year of university, I have plenty of experience getting along with faculty who are reasonable human beings. Unfortunately some of them aren't, and this instructor isn't.

I think it's fairly common knowledge that every faculty has its share of fucking assholes on power trips. I'm complaining about how difficult it is to accept being treated like garbage by someone on a power trip.

Did you note the part where she wouldn't let students go to the bathroom?? I had to make a disability accommodations request to get permission to go to the bathroom.

Plenty of university faculty are great. Half of the faculty from my doctorate are very good friends of mine who keep trying to recruit me to join the faculty, but I won't do it because of the rampant abuse and toxicity within the faculty.

And just for the record, I didn't mention it at first, but on this very specific subject that she teaches, I do happen to be more qualified. But I keep my fucking mouth shut about that because she already hates me for demanding that be allowed to go to the bathroom.

Hopefully @ditheca manages to dodge power-tripping profs if they do their doctorate. But it's a very real risk in academia, especially in grad school where faculty are accustomed to having subordinates' future careers entirely dependent on them, and it's worth considering before jumping into a doctoral program.

Learning is super fun, academia sometimes not so much.

[curious_george]

The stupidest thing I'm lusting after right now is more education.

I've gotten too good at computers. Software development and IT feel so unrewarding. I could retire in four years if I keep grinding, but I really, really want to quit immediately and go to school full-time. Learn how to be a doctor or engineer.

Doctor would add eight extra years of study/work... but I'd have a grand adventure on the way there. It could also give me better volunteer opportunities in retirement.

I'm just finishing up another graduate degree and I've found the process much more difficult than I expected to.

I love learning and writing papers, the actual education part has been easy and fun, what has been most difficult is dealing with faculty.

When I was in my early 20s, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, riddled with imposter syndrome, and very keen to impress faculty, it was easy to see them as there impressive figures worthy of the egos they sported.

Then I spent a few years in academic research and found them all to be a bunch of overgrown children, then I did my own doctorate, then built my own career as a medical professional and got spoiled by elite continuing education institutions that educate you while treating you like solid gold because you're paying $1000-2000/day for the privilege.

Going back to school has been...interesting.

My classmates are still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, riddled with imposter syndrome and eager as fuck to impress our faculty, some of whom have tragic egos that absolutely depend on being worshipped by students.

I have an instructor right now for 8 months who she and I are basically engaged in mutual psychological warfare for hours at a time because we fucking HATE each other. I despise her because she's a power tripping loser who doesn't believe in letting students go to the bathroom (not even joking) and she can't stand me because I don't kiss the ring.

I've been fortunate, most of my program has been distance education and my interaction with faculty has been blessedly minimal, I just read and write papers and essentially teach myself, which is perfect for me. I'm in my practicum portion of school, so this is the one time I need to interact extensively with faculty face-to-face.

And it's more than I can tolerate.

It's just really fucking hard to be a fully autonomous, accomplished, grown ass fucking adult and be treated like a drooling moron toddler who literally needs their potty habits policed.

There was another degree I fully intended to pursue, but honestly, after this 2.5 year process, I don't have another one in me. It's sad because I have all the motivation to keep learning. Papers, exams, presentations, projects, whatever. I can do that shit in my sleep now after 14 years of university.

I just can't tolerate being treated with disrespect day in and day out. I don't have the capacity for it anymore.

That's just me. Maybe you can navigate that kind of BS just fine. I just wanted to share as someone who just a few years ago was super jazzed to jump back into school and debating a master's vs a doctorate, but I did not expect to be ready to claw my own eyes out to get away from this insufferable nonsense.

It's really too bad because I otherwise very much enjoy school and it's so cheap up here in Canada.

When I was in college, there was this guy in my class that had worked as a welder for a decade plus before coming to college to get his Materials Science and Engineering degree. He was a bright guy, just didn’t have rich parents and wasn’t encouraged to go to college after High School. He did quite well for himself as a welder, ran a crew in the Alaska oil fields before coming back to school. He had the exact same problem you have. He was used to being the leader, and having professors talk to him like a 19 year old drove him nuts.

So with that said, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but it sounds like it’s you that needs to check your ego. Why bother confronting these people? You’re there to learn, not influence the live of your professors. You don’t need to be the leader. In fact, you trying to be a leader is disruptive to everyone else trying to learn.

It wasn’t until the welder guy figured out that the professors knew more than him about the science of welding that he chilled out and let the professors teach. Yeah, he might know more about life, running a business, being tough etc etc but the professors are there to teach a very narrow specific topic. Let them do it.

K...interesting assumptions to make based on my post.

As I said, this is my 14th year of university, I have plenty of experience getting along with faculty who are reasonable human beings. Unfortunately some of them aren't, and this instructor isn't.

I think it's fairly common knowledge that every faculty has its share of fucking assholes on power trips. I'm complaining about how difficult it is to accept being treated like garbage by someone on a power trip.

Did you note the part where she wouldn't let students go to the bathroom?? I had to make a disability accommodations request to get permission to go to the bathroom.

Plenty of university faculty are great. Half of the faculty from my doctorate are very good friends of mine who keep trying to recruit me to join the faculty, but I won't do it because of the rampant abuse and toxicity within the faculty.

And just for the record, I didn't mention it at first, but on this very specific subject that she teaches, I do happen to be more qualified. But I keep my fucking mouth shut about that because she already hates me for demanding that be allowed to go to the bathroom.

Hopefully @ditheca manages to dodge power-tripping profs if they do their doctorate. But it's a very real risk in academia, especially in grad school where faculty are accustomed to having subordinates' future careers entirely dependent on them, and it's worth considering before jumping into a doctoral program.

Learning is super fun, academia sometimes not so much.

It seems to me that if one simply enjoys the process of learning for learning sake, it might be a better idea to simply retire early and buy whatever academic textbook one wishes to have and read through it.

This also means you are not limited to the insanely slow speed a lot of classes operate at.

Some professors also post videos of their in class instruction for classes online these days, which makes it even easier to learn from the academic world without paying for it.

It's pretty easy and low cost these days to learn about things. Proving that you are qualified to anyone else is where it gets expensive, but if you have no need for a job or income then there is also no need to prove anything to anyone else.

[Metalcat]

It seems to me that if one simply enjoys the process of learning for learning sake, it might be a better idea to simply retire early and buy whatever academic textbook one wishes to have and read through it.

This also means you are not limited to the insanely slow speed a lot of classes operate at.

Some professors also post videos of their in class instruction for classes online these days, which makes it even easier to learn from the academic world without paying for it.

It's pretty easy and low cost these days to learn about things. Proving that you are qualified to anyone else is where it gets expensive, but if you have no need for a job or income then there is also no need to prove anything to anyone else.

Unfortunately you can't really DIY doctoral level work very easily, it's way more than reading textbooks. I think that's ditheca's point, that they've hit the limit of what they can self teach.

My program is 2 years didactic and 8 months clinical because it's not an academic degree, it's a clinical degree, so different from a typical master's, which is why I can do most of the learning by myself, until the clinical part, no way around needing a clinic for that.

When I was in research though, there's no DIY way to recreate a full university research facility. So some education can be done DIY, but some requires a formal institution and expert supervision.

As you know from my journal, I've leaned heavily on the expertise of my clinical supervisors, not my dumbfuck instructor, but definitely my supervisors, lol. I can't DIY that learning.

[GuitarStv]

It seems to me that if one simply enjoys the process of learning for learning sake, it might be a better idea to simply retire early and buy whatever academic textbook one wishes to have and read through it.

This also means you are not limited to the insanely slow speed a lot of classes operate at.

Some professors also post videos of their in class instruction for classes online these days, which makes it even easier to learn from the academic world without paying for it.

It's pretty easy and low cost these days to learn about things. Proving that you are qualified to anyone else is where it gets expensive, but if you have no need for a job or income then there is also no need to prove anything to anyone else.

As someone who tends to learn very well independently, I used to think this as well.  My thinking has come around on the issue though over the years.  There's something to be said for surrounding yourself with others who are studying the same thing, with regular graded assignments forcing you to focus on the hard and boring (as well as the fun/easier) parts of the stuff you're learning.  There are also certain topics that aren't all that well covered in online tutorials.

[Askel]

The stupidest thing I'm lusting after right now is more education.

I've gotten too good at computers. Software development and IT feel so unrewarding. I could retire in four years if I keep grinding, but I really, really want to quit immediately and go to school full-time. Learn how to be a doctor or engineer.

Doctor would add eight extra years of study/work... but I'd have a grand adventure on the way there. It could also give me better volunteer opportunities in retirement.

Go for it!  I quit my boring, unrewarding IT job to be a full time academic for a few years. Was absolutely a blast that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Learned quite a few lessons I was not expecting to learn at all.   

But keep in mind there's a difference between learning to be a doctor (assuming medical type here) or engineer and actually being doctor or engineer.   

I went back to my boring IT job with a new found joy in some of the boring aspects of it. 

Still, I'd absolutely do it all again.   

Didn't even derail my FIRE plans that much. In fact, it sort of reset my lifestyle a bit and may have advanced them some. 

[curious_george]

It seems to me that if one simply enjoys the process of learning for learning sake, it might be a better idea to simply retire early and buy whatever academic textbook one wishes to have and read through it.

This also means you are not limited to the insanely slow speed a lot of classes operate at.

Some professors also post videos of their in class instruction for classes online these days, which makes it even easier to learn from the academic world without paying for it.

It's pretty easy and low cost these days to learn about things. Proving that you are qualified to anyone else is where it gets expensive, but if you have no need for a job or income then there is also no need to prove anything to anyone else.

Unfortunately you can't really DIY doctoral level work very easily, it's way more than reading textbooks. I think that's ditheca's point, that they've hit the limit of what they can self teach.

My program is 2 years didactic and 8 months clinical because it's not an academic degree, it's a clinical degree, so different from a typical master's, which is why I can do most of the learning by myself, until the clinical part, no way around needing a clinic for that.

When I was in research though, there's no DIY way to recreate a full university research facility. So some education can be done DIY, but some requires a formal institution and expert supervision.

As you know from my journal, I've leaned heavily on the expertise of my clinical supervisors, not my dumbfuck instructor, but definitely my supervisors, lol. I can't DIY that learning.

Honestly reading through your journal and your experiences in school is another data point that tells me that more schooling is not emotionally appealing for me - it just doesn't seem that fun and you have helped to point out more reasons why it would not be fun for me since we have similar issues with authority figures, lol.

I guess I just don't personally understand the emotional appeal of @ditheca desire to go back to school. It feels more like they are coming from the position that software development is emotionally unrewarding work. As a software engineer for the past 19 years - I completely understand that statement deep in my soul. My job has never been emotionally rewarding.

However - I don't understand how going back to school for 8-10 years would be emotionally appealing. It feels more like this is their answer to 'my job is unrewarding', and it hasn't completely been thought through. Maybe their job really is unrewarding, but is going back to school for 8 years really the answer? Would they find a career as a doctor to be that much more emotionally rewarding than a career as a software engineer?

Or is the answer just taking a year off work and hiking the Appalachian trail or something that they find more emotionally rewarding?

Idk....

I have wrestled with similar thoughts, and always concluded that for me going back to school is not that appealing. But I am also at the point already where I can retire at any time, so I'm comparing the idea of retirement  to the idea of going back to school and I'm like...yeah no thanks.  I will find something else to do.

[Metalcat]

Honestly reading through your journal and your experiences in school is another data point that tells me that more schooling is not emotionally appealing for me - it just doesn't seem that fun and you have helped to point out more reasons why it would not be fun for me since we have similar issues with authority figures, lol.

I guess I just don't personally understand the emotional appeal of @ditheca desire to go back to school. It feels more like they are coming from the position that software development is emotionally unrewarding work. As a software engineer for the past 19 years - I completely understand that statement deep in my soul. My job has never been emotionally rewarding.

However - I don't understand how going back to school for 8-10 years would be emotionally appealing. It feels more like this is their answer to 'my job is unrewarding', and it hasn't completely been thought through. Maybe their job really is unrewarding, but is going back to school for 8 years really the answer? Would they find a career as a doctor to be that much more emotionally rewarding than a career as a software engineer?

Or is the answer just taking a year off work and hiking the Appalachian trail or something that they find more emotionally rewarding?

Idk....

I have wrestled with similar thoughts, and always concluded that for me going back to school is not that appealing. But I am also at the point already where I can retire at any time, so I'm comparing the idea of retirement  to the idea of going back to school and I'm like...yeah no thanks.  I will find something else to do.

As Askel described, sometimes grad school can be awesome. It's not always super toxic, and some people are more equipped to handle the toxic dynamics even if they are there. My first lab wasn't toxic at all. The other labs were, hoo boy were they viper pits, but mine was lovely.

I was just sharing my perspective that I was actually super jazzed to go back to being a grad student only to find it systematically drained the energy out of me to deal with so much bullshit.

Some of my classmates handle it just fine. For example, the classmates who are public school teachers are so accustomed to that specific kind of toxicity and hierarchical bullshit that they don't even blink when it happens.

I got too spoiled by continuing education programs, which were just as rigorous and demanding as grad school, often doing lectures and labs for 12-16 hrs/day, but where we were by default treated with respect.

Once you get accustomed to expecting basic dignity in your education, it's hard to go back :(

[curious_george]

Honestly reading through your journal and your experiences in school is another data point that tells me that more schooling is not emotionally appealing for me - it just doesn't seem that fun and you have helped to point out more reasons why it would not be fun for me since we have similar issues with authority figures, lol.

I guess I just don't personally understand the emotional appeal of @ditheca desire to go back to school. It feels more like they are coming from the position that software development is emotionally unrewarding work. As a software engineer for the past 19 years - I completely understand that statement deep in my soul. My job has never been emotionally rewarding.

However - I don't understand how going back to school for 8-10 years would be emotionally appealing. It feels more like this is their answer to 'my job is unrewarding', and it hasn't completely been thought through. Maybe their job really is unrewarding, but is going back to school for 8 years really the answer? Would they find a career as a doctor to be that much more emotionally rewarding than a career as a software engineer?

Or is the answer just taking a year off work and hiking the Appalachian trail or something that they find more emotionally rewarding?

Idk....

I have wrestled with similar thoughts, and always concluded that for me going back to school is not that appealing. But I am also at the point already where I can retire at any time, so I'm comparing the idea of retirement  to the idea of going back to school and I'm like...yeah no thanks.  I will find something else to do.

As Askel described, sometimes grad school can be awesome. It's not always super toxic, and some people are more equipped to handle the toxic dynamics even if they are there. My first lab wasn't toxic at all. The other labs were, hoo boy were they viper pits, but mine was lovely.

I was just sharing my perspective that I was actually super jazzed to go back to being a grad student only to find it systematically drained the energy out of me to deal with so much bullshit.

Some of my classmates handle it just fine. For example, the classmates who are public school teachers are so accustomed to that specific kind of toxicity and hierarchical bullshit that they don't even blink when it happens.

I got too spoiled by continuing education programs, which were just as rigorous and demanding as grad school, often doing lectures and labs for 12-16 hrs/day, but where we were by default treated with respect.

Once you get accustomed to expecting basic dignity in your education, it's hard to go back :(

Oh - I do appreciate you sharing your perspective about your experience.

I just don't understand the emotional appeal people see in things at times.

Like - spending 16 hours / day in lectures and labs does not sound appealing to me at all, regardless of how well respected I am. When do you eat lunch? Dinner? Walk breaks? Do you get to play sand volleyball during your lunch break? Takes walks in the forest? Is there a ping pong table somewhere and a Nintendo Wii setup with some bean bags somewhere? Can you randomly just decide to get up and leave at any time?

I assume you at least get to wear whatever you want, right??

It's hard for me to imagine spending 16 hours in lectures and labs and feel emotionally energized afterwards, then doing this for 8 years, and seeing this as better than working in the tech world.

The tech world has spoiled me beyond all imagination, and even this I will leave eventually because I can't do *exactly* what I want to do every day and the work itself is emotionally unrewarding.

Different things appeal to everyone though. Normally when I see someone who is burnt out in the tech world who wants to be a doctor though I always stop and say, is that what you *really* want to do though?

I mean - if someone is burnt out as a software engineer working next to their beam bags and ping pong tables, I assume the same person would get burnt out as a medical doctor doing 24 hour long shifts in the emergency room.

[rothwem]

Honestly reading through your journal and your experiences in school is another data point that tells me that more schooling is not emotionally appealing for me - it just doesn't seem that fun and you have helped to point out more reasons why it would not be fun for me since we have similar issues with authority figures, lol.

I guess I just don't personally understand the emotional appeal of @ditheca desire to go back to school. It feels more like they are coming from the position that software development is emotionally unrewarding work. As a software engineer for the past 19 years - I completely understand that statement deep in my soul. My job has never been emotionally rewarding.

However - I don't understand how going back to school for 8-10 years would be emotionally appealing. It feels more like this is their answer to 'my job is unrewarding', and it hasn't completely been thought through. Maybe their job really is unrewarding, but is going back to school for 8 years really the answer? Would they find a career as a doctor to be that much more emotionally rewarding than a career as a software engineer?

Or is the answer just taking a year off work and hiking the Appalachian trail or something that they find more emotionally rewarding?

Idk....

I have wrestled with similar thoughts, and always concluded that for me going back to school is not that appealing. But I am also at the point already where I can retire at any time, so I'm comparing the idea of retirement  to the idea of going back to school and I'm like...yeah no thanks.  I will find something else to do.

As Askel described, sometimes grad school can be awesome. It's not always super toxic, and some people are more equipped to handle the toxic dynamics even if they are there. My first lab wasn't toxic at all. The other labs were, hoo boy were they viper pits, but mine was lovely.

I was just sharing my perspective that I was actually super jazzed to go back to being a grad student only to find it systematically drained the energy out of me to deal with so much bullshit.

Some of my classmates handle it just fine. For example, the classmates who are public school teachers are so accustomed to that specific kind of toxicity and hierarchical bullshit that they don't even blink when it happens.

I got too spoiled by continuing education programs, which were just as rigorous and demanding as grad school, often doing lectures and labs for 12-16 hrs/day, but where we were by default treated with respect.

Once you get accustomed to expecting basic dignity in your education, it's hard to go back :(

Oh - I do appreciate you sharing your perspective about your experience.

I just don't understand the emotional appeal people see in things at times.

Like - spending 16 hours / day in lectures and labs does not sound appealing to me at all, regardless of how well respected I am. When do you eat lunch? Dinner? Walk breaks? Do you get to play sand volleyball during your lunch break? Takes walks in the forest? Is there a ping pong table somewhere and a Nintendo Wii setup with some bean bags somewhere? Can you randomly just decide to get up and leave at any time?

I assume you at least get to wear whatever you want, right??

It's hard for me to imagine spending 16 hours in lectures and labs and feel emotionally energized afterwards, then doing this for 8 years, and seeing this as better than working in the tech world.

The tech world has spoiled me beyond all imagination, and even this I will leave eventually because I can't do *exactly* what I want to do every day and the work itself is emotionally unrewarding.

Different things appeal to everyone though. Normally when I see someone who is burnt out in the tech world who wants to be a doctor though I always stop and say, is that what you *really* want to do though?

I mean - if someone is burnt out as a software engineer working next to their beam bags and ping pong tables, I assume the same person would get burnt out as a medical doctor doing 24 hour long shifts in the emergency room.

Some people really thrive off of progression, some people don't really care. 

[curious_george]

Honestly reading through your journal and your experiences in school is another data point that tells me that more schooling is not emotionally appealing for me - it just doesn't seem that fun and you have helped to point out more reasons why it would not be fun for me since we have similar issues with authority figures, lol.

I guess I just don't personally understand the emotional appeal of @ditheca desire to go back to school. It feels more like they are coming from the position that software development is emotionally unrewarding work. As a software engineer for the past 19 years - I completely understand that statement deep in my soul. My job has never been emotionally rewarding.

However - I don't understand how going back to school for 8-10 years would be emotionally appealing. It feels more like this is their answer to 'my job is unrewarding', and it hasn't completely been thought through. Maybe their job really is unrewarding, but is going back to school for 8 years really the answer? Would they find a career as a doctor to be that much more emotionally rewarding than a career as a software engineer?

Or is the answer just taking a year off work and hiking the Appalachian trail or something that they find more emotionally rewarding?

Idk....

I have wrestled with similar thoughts, and always concluded that for me going back to school is not that appealing. But I am also at the point already where I can retire at any time, so I'm comparing the idea of retirement  to the idea of going back to school and I'm like...yeah no thanks.  I will find something else to do.

As Askel described, sometimes grad school can be awesome. It's not always super toxic, and some people are more equipped to handle the toxic dynamics even if they are there. My first lab wasn't toxic at all. The other labs were, hoo boy were they viper pits, but mine was lovely.

I was just sharing my perspective that I was actually super jazzed to go back to being a grad student only to find it systematically drained the energy out of me to deal with so much bullshit.

Some of my classmates handle it just fine. For example, the classmates who are public school teachers are so accustomed to that specific kind of toxicity and hierarchical bullshit that they don't even blink when it happens.

I got too spoiled by continuing education programs, which were just as rigorous and demanding as grad school, often doing lectures and labs for 12-16 hrs/day, but where we were by default treated with respect.

Once you get accustomed to expecting basic dignity in your education, it's hard to go back :(

Oh - I do appreciate you sharing your perspective about your experience.

I just don't understand the emotional appeal people see in things at times.

Like - spending 16 hours / day in lectures and labs does not sound appealing to me at all, regardless of how well respected I am. When do you eat lunch? Dinner? Walk breaks? Do you get to play sand volleyball during your lunch break? Takes walks in the forest? Is there a ping pong table somewhere and a Nintendo Wii setup with some bean bags somewhere? Can you randomly just decide to get up and leave at any time?

I assume you at least get to wear whatever you want, right??

It's hard for me to imagine spending 16 hours in lectures and labs and feel emotionally energized afterwards, then doing this for 8 years, and seeing this as better than working in the tech world.

The tech world has spoiled me beyond all imagination, and even this I will leave eventually because I can't do *exactly* what I want to do every day and the work itself is emotionally unrewarding.

Different things appeal to everyone though. Normally when I see someone who is burnt out in the tech world who wants to be a doctor though I always stop and say, is that what you *really* want to do though?

I mean - if someone is burnt out as a software engineer working next to their beam bags and ping pong tables, I assume the same person would get burnt out as a medical doctor doing 24 hour long shifts in the emergency room.

Some people really thrive off of progression, some people don't really care.

True...

I always wonder about people who thrive so much off of progression though...like...are they ok? Or are they secretly stressed out beyond belief?

Like - blink twice of you're doing this against your will, lol.

[Dancin'Dog]

The stupidest thing I'm lusting after right now is more education.

I've gotten too good at computers. Software development and IT feel so unrewarding. I could retire in four years if I keep grinding, but I really, really want to quit immediately and go to school full-time. Learn how to be a doctor or engineer.

Doctor would add eight extra years of study/work... but I'd have a grand adventure on the way there. It could also give me better volunteer opportunities in retirement.

I'm just finishing up another graduate degree and I've found the process much more difficult than I expected to.

I love learning and writing papers, the actual education part has been easy and fun, what has been most difficult is dealing with faculty.

When I was in my early 20s, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, riddled with imposter syndrome, and very keen to impress faculty, it was easy to see them as there impressive figures worthy of the egos they sported.

Then I spent a few years in academic research and found them all to be a bunch of overgrown children, then I did my own doctorate, then built my own career as a medical professional and got spoiled by elite continuing education institutions that educate you while treating you like solid gold because you're paying $1000-2000/day for the privilege.

Going back to school has been...interesting.

My classmates are still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, riddled with imposter syndrome and eager as fuck to impress our faculty, some of whom have tragic egos that absolutely depend on being worshipped by students.

I have an instructor right now for 8 months who she and I are basically engaged in mutual psychological warfare for hours at a time because we fucking HATE each other. I despise her because she's a power tripping loser who doesn't believe in letting students go to the bathroom (not even joking) and she can't stand me because I don't kiss the ring.

I've been fortunate, most of my program has been distance education and my interaction with faculty has been blessedly minimal, I just read and write papers and essentially teach myself, which is perfect for me. I'm in my practicum portion of school, so this is the one time I need to interact extensively with faculty face-to-face.

And it's more than I can tolerate.

It's just really fucking hard to be a fully autonomous, accomplished, grown ass fucking adult and be treated like a drooling moron toddler who literally needs their potty habits policed.

There was another degree I fully intended to pursue, but honestly, after this 2.5 year process, I don't have another one in me. It's sad because I have all the motivation to keep learning. Papers, exams, presentations, projects, whatever. I can do that shit in my sleep now after 14 years of university.

I just can't tolerate being treated with disrespect day in and day out. I don't have the capacity for it anymore.

That's just me. Maybe you can navigate that kind of BS just fine. I just wanted to share as someone who just a few years ago was super jazzed to jump back into school and debating a master's vs a doctorate, but I did not expect to be ready to claw my own eyes out to get away from this insufferable nonsense.

It's really too bad because I otherwise very much enjoy school and it's so cheap up here in Canada.

It sounded like George Carlin could have written that reply.

[rothwem]

Honestly reading through your journal and your experiences in school is another data point that tells me that more schooling is not emotionally appealing for me - it just doesn't seem that fun and you have helped to point out more reasons why it would not be fun for me since we have similar issues with authority figures, lol.

I guess I just don't personally understand the emotional appeal of @ditheca desire to go back to school. It feels more like they are coming from the position that software development is emotionally unrewarding work. As a software engineer for the past 19 years - I completely understand that statement deep in my soul. My job has never been emotionally rewarding.

However - I don't understand how going back to school for 8-10 years would be emotionally appealing. It feels more like this is their answer to 'my job is unrewarding', and it hasn't completely been thought through. Maybe their job really is unrewarding, but is going back to school for 8 years really the answer? Would they find a career as a doctor to be that much more emotionally rewarding than a career as a software engineer?

Or is the answer just taking a year off work and hiking the Appalachian trail or something that they find more emotionally rewarding?

Idk....

I have wrestled with similar thoughts, and always concluded that for me going back to school is not that appealing. But I am also at the point already where I can retire at any time, so I'm comparing the idea of retirement  to the idea of going back to school and I'm like...yeah no thanks.  I will find something else to do.

As Askel described, sometimes grad school can be awesome. It's not always super toxic, and some people are more equipped to handle the toxic dynamics even if they are there. My first lab wasn't toxic at all. The other labs were, hoo boy were they viper pits, but mine was lovely.

I was just sharing my perspective that I was actually super jazzed to go back to being a grad student only to find it systematically drained the energy out of me to deal with so much bullshit.

Some of my classmates handle it just fine. For example, the classmates who are public school teachers are so accustomed to that specific kind of toxicity and hierarchical bullshit that they don't even blink when it happens.

I got too spoiled by continuing education programs, which were just as rigorous and demanding as grad school, often doing lectures and labs for 12-16 hrs/day, but where we were by default treated with respect.

Once you get accustomed to expecting basic dignity in your education, it's hard to go back :(

Oh - I do appreciate you sharing your perspective about your experience.

I just don't understand the emotional appeal people see in things at times.

Like - spending 16 hours / day in lectures and labs does not sound appealing to me at all, regardless of how well respected I am. When do you eat lunch? Dinner? Walk breaks? Do you get to play sand volleyball during your lunch break? Takes walks in the forest? Is there a ping pong table somewhere and a Nintendo Wii setup with some bean bags somewhere? Can you randomly just decide to get up and leave at any time?

I assume you at least get to wear whatever you want, right??

It's hard for me to imagine spending 16 hours in lectures and labs and feel emotionally energized afterwards, then doing this for 8 years, and seeing this as better than working in the tech world.

The tech world has spoiled me beyond all imagination, and even this I will leave eventually because I can't do *exactly* what I want to do every day and the work itself is emotionally unrewarding.

Different things appeal to everyone though. Normally when I see someone who is burnt out in the tech world who wants to be a doctor though I always stop and say, is that what you *really* want to do though?

I mean - if someone is burnt out as a software engineer working next to their beam bags and ping pong tables, I assume the same person would get burnt out as a medical doctor doing 24 hour long shifts in the emergency room.

Some people really thrive off of progression, some people don't really care.

True...

I always wonder about people who thrive so much off of progression though...like...are they ok? Or are they secretly stressed out beyond belief?

Like - blink twice of you're doing this against your will, lol.

Hahaha, hilarious.

I love progression in certain circumstances—cycling and fitness for example.  I love seeing my threshold power climb, or my ability to lift bigger weights. I’m not that way necessarily for education but I love learning new things. For me, it’s more stressful to feel like I’m stagnating and not progressing.

So no need for blinking :D

[Metalcat]

It sounded like George Carlin could have written that reply.

Throw in some Kermit the Frog style arm flailing and, yeah, that's pretty much me.

[ditheca]

I guess I just don't personally understand the emotional appeal of @ditheca desire to go back to school. It feels more like they are coming from the position that software development is emotionally unrewarding work. As a software engineer for the past 19 years - I completely understand that statement deep in my soul. My job has never been emotionally rewarding.

However - I don't understand how going back to school for 8-10 years would be emotionally appealing. It feels more like this is their answer to 'my job is unrewarding', and it hasn't completely been thought through. Maybe their job really is unrewarding, but is going back to school for 8 years really the answer? Would they find a career as a doctor to be that much more emotionally rewarding than a career as a software engineer?

Or is the answer just taking a year off work and hiking the Appalachian trail or something that they find more emotionally rewarding?

Hiking the trail is possibly on the bucket list, but I need to get my teenagers out the door first.

I enjoy learning, as well as the sense of progression that comes from mastering something new. Recently I got an MBA and a black belt in karate. Next month is night classes to become a certified nurse (CNA). I'm told on day 1 students have to practice drawing blood on each other. Not looking forward to being someone's first attempt -- but it'll be an experience to remember.

My father coasted to retirement using ancient IT web development skills. He found a niche where he could stop learning and just collected a paycheck from age 50 to 65. I never want to stagnate like that. I'm also a bit worried that I won't find enough meaningful things to do in retirement. I'm not even FIRE yet but I've already reached the point where I get little joy out of video games and have trouble finding good books.

Thanks to everyone for the stories about your education experiences later in life!

[MoseyingAlong]

The stupidest thing I'm lusting after right now is more education.

I've gotten too good at computers. Software development and IT feel so unrewarding. I could retire in four years if I keep grinding, but I really, really want to quit immediately and go to school full-time. Learn how to be a doctor or engineer.

Doctor would add eight extra years of study/work... but I'd have a grand adventure on the way there. It could also give me better volunteer opportunities in retirement.

@ditheca I'm right there with you. I keep thinking about going back to school, just haven't decided what to study yet.
This after doing the education/training for disparate careers and working in each for a while. Long enough to get over that early steep learning curve. Love the challenge. And each is something I could see going back to, i.e. I didn't pursue something new because I hated the old. We live in a fascinating world and I enjoy learning more about how it all works.

And to rothwem's point, focusing on what I could learn from different instructors, instead of where I found them lacking, really helped. As the saying goes, we can learn from anyone, even if it's just what not to do.

Hope you're enjoying the CNA training.

[ChpBstrd]

Recently I got an MBA and a black belt in karate. Next month is night classes to become a certified nurse (CNA). I'm told on day 1 students have to practice drawing blood on each other. Not looking forward to being someone's first attempt -- but it'll be an experience to remember.

Did anyone else skim over this and initially connect the drawing blood thing to the karate thing?

"Tomorrow, we fight to the first blood!"

[JLee]

idk exactly how stupid this is, but my 2.5% mortgage has me considering demoing my shitty garage and building a proper shop with enough ceiling height for a lift, plus a second floor (because moving somewhere else and getting a 7% mortgage is less than ideal)..

[mspym]

The difficulty of sequencing various house upgrade jobs (wall insulation/double glazing/adequate lighting/electrical etc) has me longing for some sort of house disaster where we get a big check from the insurance company and we can just buy a replacement house to pop down on our section that already has all of the modern building standards instead of trying to haul a 60 year old house into the 21st century.

[Taran Wanderer]

idk exactly how stupid this is, but my 2.5% mortgage has me considering demoing my shitty garage and building a proper shop with enough ceiling height for a lift, plus a second floor (because moving somewhere else and getting a 7% mortgage is less than ideal)..

I’ve been lusting after a shop for 20 years.  Construction finally started!  Footings poured today, foundation walls next.  I’ll be painting it by mid summer!

[JLee]

idk exactly how stupid this is, but my 2.5% mortgage has me considering demoing my shitty garage and building a proper shop with enough ceiling height for a lift, plus a second floor (because moving somewhere else and getting a 7% mortgage is less than ideal)..

I’ve been lusting after a shop for 20 years.  Construction finally started!  Footings poured today, foundation walls next.  I’ll be painting it by mid summer!

Congrats!! What footprint did you go with? I have enough zoning allowance and lot to go probably 40x50 but anything beyond 32' wide goes into a (very steep) hill, which scares me re: excavation costs, and anything beyond 40' will both go into the hill and be weirdly oversized for the overall lot (even 32x40 is probably pushing it from an objective / resale perspective...~1900 sq ft 2-story house with an additional 22x26 detached garage on ~.4 acres).  I also thought about prepping/planning/permitting for a future in-law apartment in the 2nd floor, but the way property taxes work here in NJ I'd be taxed on the whole / finished project whether I did it or not, so my property taxes would probably go from an already ridiculous number to 30%+ more..

[Alternatepriorities]

idk exactly how stupid this is, but my 2.5% mortgage has me considering demoing my shitty garage and building a proper shop with enough ceiling height for a lift, plus a second floor (because moving somewhere else and getting a 7% mortgage is less than ideal)..

I’ve been lusting after a shop for 20 years.  Construction finally started!  Footings poured today, foundation walls next.  I’ll be painting it by mid summer!

Congrats!! What footprint did you go with? I have enough zoning allowance and lot to go probably 40x50 but anything beyond 32' wide goes into a (very steep) hill, which scares me re: excavation costs, and anything beyond 40' will both go into the hill and be weirdly oversized for the overall lot (even 32x40 is probably pushing it from an objective / resale perspective...~1900 sq ft 2-story house with an additional 22x26 detached garage on ~.4 acres).  I also thought about prepping/planning/permitting for a future in-law apartment in the 2nd floor, but the way property taxes work here in NJ I'd be taxed on the whole / finished project whether I did it or not, so my property taxes would probably go from an already ridiculous number to 30%+ more..

Congratulations Taran Wanderer!

I've been looking at building an actual shop as well this spring after wanting one for the last five years since we moved in. I some of the same issues as JLee in that it makes little sense to move with my existing mortgage rate. I have an acre and nowhere that would not require significant excavation though. With a baby/toddler asleep in the house I really would like somewhere I can work without fear of waking him. I was originally thinking of a completely stand alone shop, but realized a couple weeks ago that adding a second garage attached to the house could be done to look good and include a second floor that would make the house more valuable... So now I am debating the value of doing the more complicated addition project instead of just making a stand alone shop... Fortunately there would be no permitting either way and there is a reasonable chance the borough won't even notice for a couple of years.

My first pass at getting the dirt work quoted has me seriously considering if I should just buy a Kabota and spend a few weeks on it myself... in the end I have a tractor/backhoe and the gravel moved instead of just the gravel moved... And that's where DW begins to question my sanity...

Advantages to the standalone shop: No noise issues, less gravel to move, I feel 100% confident in my ability to do everything except the concrete myself. No need to move gas line to the house or furnace flue

Advantage to the attached option. 600 sq feet of additional house space on the exact same amount of concrete. It would allow me to update the kitchen at my own pace without loosing the existing kitchen and add a master bedroom to the house, both of which would make it much more competitive in the modern market. Downside, it would definitely be more complicated and might have to have it dried in by a professional and just do the interior work myself.

[Taran Wanderer]

Getting my dimensions figured out has been a major thing.  The way our lot is situated, there is only one place to build the shop, and it's squeezed between the property line, a steep hillside, our septic system, and the road, which is slightly above the shop in elevation.  It's also below our house and in our view, so it needs to be:

1.  Large enough to be useful
2.  Tall enough to be useful
3.  Small enough to fit in the available footprint
4.  Low enough to see over
5.  and have a floor elevation that is low enough to keep the overall height down (see #4) but high enough that the slope down from the road isn't too severe

It also has to be attractive, because it's the first thing we'll see when we look out of our house.  Anyway, after years of thinking about it, some topo surveying with my brother's laser, roofline and footprint sketches, and then design and structural engineering (because of the lot slope, a couple foundation walls are more than 4'), I finally submitted for permit last fall, and construction began as we dry out this spring.

The end product will give me a long main bay for storage, workbench, and projects with an attached office space which will support WFH and hobbies.  The office space will also break up the mass of the building so we enjoy the view.  The construction is being done by contractors, but I will paint it the same as the house, paint the interior also, probably trim the interior, and of course do all the workbench, storage (tools, yard stuff, toys), some tile work, and light plumbing.  One wall would work as a climbing wall, and the kids like that idea, so if they want to help build that, we'll build a 16' high climbing wall also.  Should be a fun late summer of projects into next winter.

I still can't decide if it's stupid or not stupid, but I've been lusting after it for a very long time, and I'm not getting any younger.  It's time to go.

The funny thing is that when I describe the building size to people of one gender, the reaction is, "Wow, that's very big!"  But when I describe it to people of the opposite gender, the reaction is, "Not big enough!"  I tend to agree with the latter...

[bobble]

MNT Reform laptop. $1500 with the specs of an old cellphone and the size of a 90s laptop. But feels like something we should have in the house for the kids to play with...

[JLee]

Getting my dimensions figured out has been a major thing.  The way our lot is situated, there is only one place to build the shop, and it's squeezed between the property line, a steep hillside, our septic system, and the road, which is slightly above the shop in elevation.  It's also below our house and in our view, so it needs to be:

1.  Large enough to be useful
2.  Tall enough to be useful
3.  Small enough to fit in the available footprint
4.  Low enough to see over
5.  and have a floor elevation that is low enough to keep the overall height down (see #4) but high enough that the slope down from the road isn't too severe

It also has to be attractive, because it's the first thing we'll see when we look out of our house.  Anyway, after years of thinking about it, some topo surveying with my brother's laser, roofline and footprint sketches, and then design and structural engineering (because of the lot slope, a couple foundation walls are more than 4'), I finally submitted for permit last fall, and construction began as we dry out this spring.

The end product will give me a long main bay for storage, workbench, and projects with an attached office space which will support WFH and hobbies.  The office space will also break up the mass of the building so we enjoy the view.  The construction is being done by contractors, but I will paint it the same as the house, paint the interior also, probably trim the interior, and of course do all the workbench, storage (tools, yard stuff, toys), some tile work, and light plumbing.  One wall would work as a climbing wall, and the kids like that idea, so if they want to help build that, we'll build a 16' high climbing wall also.  Should be a fun late summer of projects into next winter.

I still can't decide if it's stupid or not stupid, but I've been lusting after it for a very long time, and I'm not getting any younger.  It's time to go.

The funny thing is that when I describe the building size to people of one gender, the reaction is, "Wow, that's very big!"  But when I describe it to people of the opposite gender, the reaction is, "Not big enough!"  I tend to agree with the latter...

lol when I was talking with a local architect about the possibility of a 40x40 structure, he was trying to explain to me how big that was.  Yes, I am entirely aware and if I had more space, I would be looking at a 40x60 or more...

I am a little concerned about impact on potential resale, but am trying to be aware of that without getting too caught up in it. I'm in northern NJ where large shops are basically non-existent, so I suspect I would end up with a house that most buyers wouldn't want but a fraction of buyers would kill for.

[Metalcat]

Getting my dimensions figured out has been a major thing.  The way our lot is situated, there is only one place to build the shop, and it's squeezed between the property line, a steep hillside, our septic system, and the road, which is slightly above the shop in elevation.  It's also below our house and in our view, so it needs to be:

1.  Large enough to be useful
2.  Tall enough to be useful
3.  Small enough to fit in the available footprint
4.  Low enough to see over
5.  and have a floor elevation that is low enough to keep the overall height down (see #4) but high enough that the slope down from the road isn't too severe

It also has to be attractive, because it's the first thing we'll see when we look out of our house.  Anyway, after years of thinking about it, some topo surveying with my brother's laser, roofline and footprint sketches, and then design and structural engineering (because of the lot slope, a couple foundation walls are more than 4'), I finally submitted for permit last fall, and construction began as we dry out this spring.

The end product will give me a long main bay for storage, workbench, and projects with an attached office space which will support WFH and hobbies.  The office space will also break up the mass of the building so we enjoy the view.  The construction is being done by contractors, but I will paint it the same as the house, paint the interior also, probably trim the interior, and of course do all the workbench, storage (tools, yard stuff, toys), some tile work, and light plumbing.  One wall would work as a climbing wall, and the kids like that idea, so if they want to help build that, we'll build a 16' high climbing wall also.  Should be a fun late summer of projects into next winter.

I still can't decide if it's stupid or not stupid, but I've been lusting after it for a very long time, and I'm not getting any younger.  It's time to go.

The funny thing is that when I describe the building size to people of one gender, the reaction is, "Wow, that's very big!"  But when I describe it to people of the opposite gender, the reaction is, "Not big enough!"  I tend to agree with the latter...

lol when I was talking with a local architect about the possibility of a 40x40 structure, he was trying to explain to me how big that was.  Yes, I am entirely aware and if I had more space, I would be looking at a 40x60 or more...

I am a little concerned about impact on potential resale, but am trying to be aware of that without getting too caught up in it. I'm in northern NJ where large shops are basically non-existent, so I suspect I would end up with a house that most buyers wouldn't want but a fraction of buyers would kill for.

Wowza, that's bigger than both of my homes combined.

[JLee]

Wowza, that's bigger than both of my homes combined.

Yeah, I basically want a warehouse. :)

[Askel]

MNT Reform laptop. $1500 with the specs of an old cellphone and the size of a 90s laptop. But feels like something we should have in the house for the kids to play with...

I had to google what that was and then found this:

https://shop.mntre.com/products/zz9000-for-amiga-preorder?taxon_id=14

So now I want an Amiga 4000 again. With a Video Toaster of course. 

THANKS.  :D 

[RetiredAt63]

Wowza, that's bigger than both of my homes combined.

Yeah, I basically want a warehouse. :)

My last house (in farm country) had a huge detached garage.  2 regular overhead doors (but tall, with 5 panels, not 4) and a third overhead door at one side for a tractor.  It was larger than a lot of houses.  Every man who visited was in love with it.

[Taran Wanderer]

Mine will be ~1,300 sf. Sadly it will hardly compare to my little brother's. His is 5,000+. But he has more land and more equipment, so it’s okay. Maybe. But not really.