If you're at work, are you thinking about kiting?
If you're kiting, are you thinking about work? HA! I doubt it
It's a tough juggling act, but I believe your kids will be happiest when you are happy. If you're stressed out, making heaps of money but not enjoying your time, they'll pick up on this.
I reckon it's actually a good example to show your children that life should be enjoyed. There's more to it than just paying bills.
If you want a serious answer- I reckon all you actually have to do is finish work about 3 some days. Work through lunch or whatever the boss wants to make it up. LIFE'S SHORT !!
( P.S. I'm a tradie. self employed. I kite EVERY day there is wind! )
Select to expand quotecauncy said...
Watched some backpackers pass my place today, old clapped out van chocked with surfboards and life's important stuff, as they looked at my big house on the ocean ,if they only knew how enviouse I was of them, they were living , I was passing time
It's funny how we don't realise what's in front of us. You've got a big house with ocean views(?), it reads as though you kite most days, you appear to have financial stability (otherwise no big beach side house!) , have some toys (probably more kite gear than most and a quad and boat?) and you have experienced living in 7 different countries whilst probably visiting plenty more. I reckon it's the back packers who are a bit envious..
The work / life balance is interesting. Most of the my mates / aquantances and family in their 40's really seem to struggle and to be fair seem miserable. Working 50-60hrs a week to keep up with the Jones. No real hobbies. I can see why the midlife crisis is such a big thing and tears families apart.
On the flipside i see someone like "Ste" who genuinely seems happy in themselves and who have got that work/life/family/fun balance right. It's certainly something i've given a lot of thought in the last 4 months as i would hate to wake up at 40 and be unhappy.
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
Sounds like you have the work/life balance pretty good at the moment. My advice would be to flag this particular higher paying full time job that take you away more from your passions and family. After all that's what life is alll about. Family and your passions. Remain the status quo and perhaps look for a more flexible full time job later on.
Nobody sits on their death bed wishing they worked more... or died with more money.....
But.... The other part of the triangle is setting yourself up for when you are old and don't want to work anymore. To do that you really want to own a house and be mortgage free. The sooner you start the sooner you will pay off the mortgage. Or you will have to continue to work to afford rent. At the moment you piss $28k down the drain every year. For an additional $9k per year you can eventually own that house. When you retire you simply have to fun the $5k of insurances etc.
Ha! kiwi maths,
I pay less than 25k a year in rent
but if I want to buy this place my mortgage would be over 85k
Select to expand quoteMDSXR6T said...cauncy said...
Watched some backpackers pass my place today, old clapped out van chocked with surfboards and life's important stuff, as they looked at my big house on the ocean ,if they only knew how enviouse I was of them, they were living , I was passing time
It's funny how we don't realise what's in front of us. You've got a big house with ocean views(?), it reads as though you kite most days, you appear to have financial stability (otherwise no big beach side house!) , have some toys (probably more kite gear than most and a quad and boat?) and you have experienced living in 7 different countries whilst probably visiting plenty more. I reckon it's the back packers who are a bit envious..
The work / life balance is interesting. Most of the my mates / aquantances and family in their 40's really seem to struggle and to be fair seem miserable. Working 50-60hrs a week to keep up with the Jones. No real hobbies. I can see why the midlife crisis is such a big thing and tears families apart.
On the flipside i see someone like "Ste" who genuinely seems happy in themselves and who have got that work/life/family/fun balance right. It's certainly something i've given a lot of thought in the last 4 months as i would hate to wake up at 40 and be unhappy.
Not always been like this, grew up in a shidt hole and hardly had a pot to piss in, joined the uk elite forces which gave me a great sense to travel, left the uk with 2 kids wife and some luggage ( clothes) didn't know whether to turn right or left leaving Perth airport, no friends or relatives, had nothing but looking back it was some of the most fulfilling moments I've had in my life, simply put, the best times I've had as a family were when we had nowt, in the 12 years I've been here aussie has changed , IMHO for the worst, don't get me wrong it's still a ripper of a spot, and I'm appreciative of the nature ,weather, etc etc etc but it's definatly changing, increasing costs put pressure on families, seldom can a family live on one wage, and with this the haze in which many live
I certainly agree with life getting harder but how much pressure do we put on ourselves? I know that the cost of living is always increasing but it in this social media world its most important to show others how good our lives are. That you are driving the good cars, going on good holidays and dining at the best places ala the Kardashians.
We all need attention (as seen from the number of ****ty kite vids that get posted and the need to show others using a ****en smartphone app how fast you went, how far you travelled or how high you jumped!!) and leading the simple life just isn't good enough for most people. It sounds OT and in some ways it is but in a lot of ways its a good chunk of the reason why many people will struggle to be genuinely happy and the balance will never be there.
Select to expand quoteJames01 said...
breakzmaker,
What do you do for work?
I have never got close, 8-6 or 7pm in an office!
Cheers
i was in project management/oil & gas for 5 years, always was able to leave early if i started early.
now im in small business, leave when i want but worry about it more!!
Laugh when you can,
cry when you must.
Work hard, play hard,
Wear out don't rust
breakzmaker,
Is your business in the same field. Just asking as I am thinking about doing the same thing. Hope business is good!
Cheers
healthy balance is key. Finding a job one likes makes things easier. I have been doing shift work on even time roster - 2days/2nights : 4 off. The shift work obviously means missing out on half the weekends and often working public holidays - but even time roster gives me the chance to spend enough time with family, spending time at the beach when it's not too
Crowded and covers our bills.
On the flip side, when I am at work and it is windy there is no flexibility for early knocks - 12 hour shifts. For the time being am not going to change anything - things are just working out nicely....
[:)
Absolute flexibility with taking your days off, holidays and start/finish times are the key to a happy working Kiter, weather forecasts and tide charts dictate my work roster.
I also installed this key on my keyboard at work. 
Had a full time job where I could sneak off at ~4:30 if the wind was up, or work from home and sneak out for a kite but still get the job done.
I am now stuck in a job where desk presence and clock watching is a KPI so leaving early is out of the question even if you come in early and/or get the job done. Still manage to go kiting almost as much as before just forget about the 15 knot days.
It is possible to work full time and still kite as winds don't kick in until late afternoon most places. Flexibility / understanding boss (and wife/partner) very important so should be part of the decision whether to take the full-time job.
I wish I took my own advice.
Select to expand quotecauncy said..
MDSXR6T said...
cauncy said...
Watched some backpackers pass my place today, old clapped out van chocked with surfboards and life's important stuff, as they looked at my big house on the ocean ,if they only knew how enviouse I was of them, they were living , I was passing time
It's funny how we don't realise what's in front of us. You've got a big house with ocean views(?), it reads as though you kite most days, you appear to have financial stability (otherwise no big beach side house!) , have some toys (probably more kite gear than most and a quad and boat?) and you have experienced living in 7 different countries whilst probably visiting plenty more. I reckon it's the back packers who are a bit envious..
The work / life balance is interesting. Most of the my mates / aquantances and family in their 40's really seem to struggle and to be fair seem miserable. Working 50-60hrs a week to keep up with the Jones. No real hobbies. I can see why the midlife crisis is such a big thing and tears families apart.
On the flipside i see someone like "Ste" who genuinely seems happy in themselves and who have got that work/life/family/fun balance right. It's certainly something i've given a lot of thought in the last 4 months as i would hate to wake up at 40 and be unhappy.
Not always been like this, grew up in a shidt hole and hardly had a pot to piss in, joined the uk elite forces which gave me a great sense to travel, left the uk with 2 kids wife and some luggage ( clothes) didn't know whether to turn right or left leaving Perth airport, no friends or relatives, had nothing but looking back it was some of the most fulfilling moments I've had in my life, simply put, the best times I've had as a family were when we had nowt, in the 12 years I've been here aussie has changed , IMHO for the worst, don't get me wrong it's still a ripper of a spot, and I'm appreciative of the nature ,weather, etc etc etc but it's definatly changing, increasing costs put pressure on families, seldom can a family live on one wage, and with this the haze in which many live
I blame Americanisation
have you thought about adoption?
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
The sooner you start the sooner you will pay off the mortgage. Or you will have to continue to work to afford rent. At the moment you piss $28k down the drain every year. For an additional $9k per year you can eventually own that house.
Not true. As he said, when house values are falling, renting is the better option.
You say at the moment he's pissing $28k down the drain. If he'd followed your advice 12 months ago and bought, not only would he have pissed more than that down the drain in interest costs; but he'd probably have lost the same again, if not more, in capital loss on the value of the house.
House values may have fallen recently and may continue to do so but its only an issue if you're selling or refinancing. It's significantly better to own your own house but if you can't afford it then you make do but you need to be mindful that paying rent when you're in your 60's,70's and 80's is going to be much harder. There are a whole lot of people renting now who CBF thinking towards the future.
Select to expand quotedirtyharry said..Plummet said..
The sooner you start the sooner you will pay off the mortgage. Or you will have to continue to work to afford rent. At the moment you piss $28k down the drain every year. For an additional $9k per year you can eventually own that house.
Not true. As he said, when house values are falling, renting is the better option.
You say at the moment he's pissing $28k down the drain. If he'd followed your advice 12 months ago and bought, not only would he have pissed more than that down the drain in interest costs; but he'd probably have lost the same again, if not more, in capital loss on the value of the house.
At least if you are paying off a mortgage it is a form of forced saving, so the extra money saved by renting often gets spent not saved, if spend your life waiting for the market to crash you'll never get in. Dunno about the WA market but 10 years ago house prices in Melb seemed expensive at the time...
^^ Yep - for those that need it I suppose a mortgage is forced savings. Although it's a pretty bad form of forced saving depending on timing.
I just got the daily WA Business News email where today's top story is that Perth house prices dropped 2.8% in October. To be honest, I don't believe RE stats whether positive or negative so I don't read too much into it. But if it's right, then someone who waited until today to buy the median house instead of buying it last month would have saved themselves about $14,000. That's in 1 month! 
Your "forced savings" plan has a loooooot of catching up to do when it's costing you like that.
www.businessnews.com.au/user?utm_source=Business%20News%20Mailing%20List&utm_campaign=b0659f22b8-dba&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e5391356e5-b0659f22b8-288272493&destination=node/369217
The most precious commodity we have is time, not money. Nobody can create, borrow, loan or steal a single hour. But you can always get wealth. .... Happy kiting all:)
I hate working...the whole concept of struggling through life then being able to relax and enjoy life when your 70 seems ridiculous to me.
I work and work hard....I hate it always have...always will.
Time on the water after work sounds great if you haven't been working like a dog all day in the same windy hot sh1tty weather ( that makes kiting great)
All I want to do at the end of the day is sit in the shade with a cool drink.
Any way that's my rant over.
Oh and I am looking for a different job.
Im going to have a well planned mid-life "crisis" next year.
The missus and I are taking 4 months long service leave to travel Europe and Africa.
I will be making the decision during that time: Do I come back to Australia, finish my masters degree and paying off the house(s), working as a wage slave until 65.... (albeit with friends and family nearby)
Or
Work for a while, then rent out the house, sell everything else we own, buy a backpacker hostel or eco-lodge in .... maybe Nicaragua .... Live out our days working just a little bit each day, helping a local community, hanging out with travelers, and surfing and kiting in lush tropical paradise in a poorish country where everything is cheap.
Hmmm. Kids arent on cards and life is short innit. Can always come back if it goes tits up.
My neighbor is well ino his 80's. He has lived in that house for 55 years. His wife passed away 10 - 15 years ago and he's on his own. Lovely guy but everytime I see him I just think fk I don't want to end up like him.
Gave up a 'career' (love how the powerful elite sell us monkeys this, suppose we wouldn't accept as easily the word slavery anymore), in the mining industry (cut pay in half at the time, probably worth 3 times now) for a job that gets me home early enough each afternoon for a kite (and the summer holidays are free).
only thing is when I'm on holiday, every other bastard on holidays. Can't pick and choose the wind during the day (especially in winter this sucks). I don't have control of my time.
Doesnt matter what what dog trick you perform for your biscuit treats, it's the same ****e different bucket.
Most need to do the puppet dance to survive. Controlling the time when you jump through the hoops each day is the key.
but its too late for me, two kids under 10, married with a stupidly high mortgage (equals economic slavery, but don't get me started on that). The systems elites have me exactly where they want me. My life, which ultimately equates to time , is no longer mine, but there is some freedom in that as well to be honest.
But if you are not there, listen and learn to some of the great posts above.
Find your passion and stick to it until death and dust eventuate. AT ALL COSTS.
Or just keep juggling those balls to the circus music you clowns.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Gave up a 'career' (love how the powerful elite sell us monkeys this, suppose we wouldn't accept as easily the word slavery anymore), in the mining industry (cut pay in half at the time, probably worth 3 times now) for a job that gets me home early enough each afternoon for a kite (and the summer holidays are free).
only thing is when I'm on holiday, every other bastard on holidays. Can't pick and choose the wind during the day (especially in winter this sucks). I don't have control of my time.
Doesnt matter what what dog trick you perform for your biscuit treats, it's the same ****e different bucket.
Most need to do the puppet dance to survive. Controlling the time when you jump through the hoops each day is the key.
but its too late for me, two kids under 10, married with a stupidly high mortgage (equals economic slavery, but don't get me started on that). The systems elites have me exactly where they want me. My life, which ultimately equates to time , is no longer mine, but there is some freedom in that as well to be honest.
But if you are not there, listen and learn to some of the great posts above.
Find your passion and stick to it until death and dust eventuate. AT ALL COSTS.
Or just keep juggling those balls to the circus music you clowns.
The common theme is kids and marriage to make you the ultimate consumer slave 
Select to expand quoteeppo said...
Gave up a 'career' (love how the powerful elite sell us monkeys this, suppose we wouldn't accept as easily the word slavery anymore), in the mining industry (cut pay in half at the time, probably worth 3 times now) for a job that gets me home early enough each afternoon for a kite (and the summer holidays are free).
Teachers have it pretty sweet! Great hours mon-fri, better than average pay in WA (i know exactly what they get paid!), holidays every 10 weeks and can be on the water by about 4-4.30pm if you work near the beach.
Select to expand quoteMDSXR6T said..eppo said...
Gave up a 'career' (love how the powerful elite sell us monkeys this, suppose we wouldn't accept as easily the word slavery anymore), in the mining industry (cut pay in half at the time, probably worth 3 times now) for a job that gets me home early enough each afternoon for a kite (and the summer holidays are free).
Teachers have it pretty sweet! Great hours mon-fri, better than average pay in WA (i know exactly what they get paid!), holidays every 10 weeks and can be on the water by about 4-4.30pm if you work near the beach.
love to be a teacher and have those hours, only I cannot afford it. The avg wage in WA is $88k (source ABS), obviously skewed by mining
+1 for teaching.
I think I have managed to perfect/ enhance things even further by:
1)Live less than 2 minutes drive to school (sometimes I ride a bike if Im not planning on racing to the beach straight after school)
2) Bought a sweet house overlooking the water during the last property market slump (cha ching right now, ha!)
3) Have kiteable options for every possible wind direction within a 40 min drive. In fact, the beaches near me that pick up the prevailing winds are between 5 and 15 minutes drive, oh and often these are completely uncrowded.
4) School is notoriously laid back - boss is a surfer, lets me leave school anytime its pumping and I don't have a class to teach.
Since its exam leave for the seniors right now, today I showed up at 11.45am, got a pie from the tuck shop, ate some chocolate, have a cup of tea, and now am preparing to go home, grab my SUP and get out on the water.
Loving it
Wish I taught at your school. It's clock in clock out here, must be on campus during all school hours Regardless of classes.
But yeh I live 300m from the beach and yes can kite on any wind direction. Have access to both waves and flat water. I get a lot of water time for sure, more than most, so not complaining Too much.
But holidays are all very expensive, busy people wise and you cannot choose when you have them...and you have to deal with teenagers all day and the neurotic mind of the adult female species.
but it it beats standing next to some monkey wrench watching a stupid ball mill go round and round in the middle of the fcking desert that's for sure.
Thing is is my wife is one of those try hard career teacher types, applying for the deputy role (and should get it) so my afternoon activities may soon be curbed somewhat. A definite source of angst at the moment.
You see kiting is not just a hobby for me, it's my passion. but she (and most women) will never understand that.
You get less for murder I tell you.
Dang eppo! You need to pull rank haha!
Bummer your holidays aren't all u want them to be, consider a shift to nz, here if u see a student outside of school the unspoken rule by both parties is avoid eye contact and carry on
Select to expand quoteaustin said..eppo said..
Gave up a 'career' (love how the powerful elite sell us monkeys this, suppose we wouldn't accept as easily the word slavery anymore), in the mining industry (cut pay in half at the time, probably worth 3 times now) for a job that gets me home early enough each afternoon for a kite (and the summer holidays are free).
only thing is when I'm on holiday, every other bastard on holidays. Can't pick and choose the wind during the day (especially in winter this sucks). I don't have control of my time.
Doesnt matter what what dog trick you perform for your biscuit treats, it's the same ****e different bucket.
Most need to do the puppet dance to survive. Controlling the time when you jump through the hoops each day is the key.
but its too late for me, two kids under 10, married with a stupidly high mortgage (equals economic slavery, but don't get me started on that). The systems elites have me exactly where they want me. My life, which ultimately equates to time , is no longer mine, but there is some freedom in that as well to be honest.
But if you are not there, listen and learn to some of the great posts above.
Find your passion and stick to it until death and dust eventuate. AT ALL COSTS.
Or just keep juggling those balls to the circus music you clowns.
The common theme is kids and marriage to make you the ultimate consumer slave
+ home ownership!
I think Eppo might have overplayed the "holidays are difficult" card! He has an amazing family that go with him on most of his kiting trips every school holidays and off with his mates kiting when they don't.
havent heard Eppo having to do any theatre and art gallery trips that I have to suffer. Now I'm feeling sorry for MYself hahaha!
I'm really enjoying the range of perspectives and the honesty in this thread - thanks for sharing. Happy to hear any further musings and insights from those who've made unusual choices, or wished they had. A lot of us just trying to live a decent life and not be a stooge for the banks and other corporations huh.
My primary occupation gets canned if the the swell is over 2m and /or the wind is greater than 12 -13knots ...!
When i do work i am home by 1 so the east coast nor easter is in full swing by then in summer!
Happy days indeed ....!
