Select to expand quoteDave Whettingsteel said..
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!
Theatre trips...egads!! As least you don't have to sit through below amateur high school plays, my god they are excruciating!
Suppose my basic message is, total time flexibility is the key to get as close as you can to the ideal kite surf lifestyle. Sure I have more time than a lot of people I know but I have little to no control of this time. Yet most of us have neither time nor control of it.
Those that do have both, I tip my hat and politely bow in admiration. Well played indeed.
Balance of work and play makes all the difference in the world. Having been on the road for the last nine months and kiting on two sides of the Pacific, two sides of the Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean, Gulf of Mexico, Sea of Cortez and soon to be coming home. As amazing as this trip has been I have to say there is no place like home. I can't wait to hook into a few projects, because all play gets old after a while.
When I took up kiting I changed the way I contracted my work. I put a high wind clause in and was up front with all my clients. I would never leave anyone in a precarious position and just bail, but I would manage it so I was ready to hit it when it was on. No one complained because it was all up front and they expected it. I also produced better work because I was stoked all the time. Now I don't have to work any more. I run my kite school in the summer and find projects to keep me amused and challenged. I don't have millions in the bank, but I don't need that either. We keep our life reasonably simple. We make choices every day. Make your choice and let it start to unfold piece by piece, and sooner rather than later you will become what you want your lifestyle to be. You have to dream first before you can live the dream.
Having been through all of this before 20 years ago as an average surfer in Melb, with long driving distances the only way I could hit the surf whenever it was good was to be on Paul Keating's surf team (but not by choice). Sooner or later you realise you are not going toward financially stable future.
Moved to Sydney so I could be nearer to the surf and work full time, it was good on the northern beaches in winter but summer sucked the waves were small and crap would drive down to Garie beach to find a wave resembling 2ft. Moved to Eastern subs Bronte waves were also crap, Bondi overcrowded, Tamarama never saw a good wave there, ditto Maroubra.
Cue in kitesurfing, wind usually more reliable than good waves, less travel distance, my fave kiting beach is less than 1km away from home so can still hold down a full timer and kite 2-3 times a week in summer. I kite & surf 10 times more than some people I know who are so loaded they don't have to work for the rest of their lives. In one year I notched up more than 150 sessions. Living near the beach certainly helps. So having lots of money and/or not working is not the answer, you need a purpose in life, a job, a family, all of this makes kiting & surfing so much more enjoyable.
Select to expand quotedafish said..
When I took up kiting I changed the way I contracted my work. I put a high wind clause in and was up front with all my clients.
High wind clause 
I work in Welshpool and kite/windsurf near freo/coogee etc... I spoke to my employer up front and on days when i know the wind is up I start at 6:30 or 7am so I can leave just after 2 so I can be on the water by 3... works a treat, wifey loves it too since I get home at the same time regardless and works well with the kids...
I am lucky that my employer supports this I know... But at the same token - it makes me happier and better employee at work and my boss can see this...
My manager has stopped asking me when I will be leaving early, I kept referring him to seabreeze and taught him how to look for the patterns and green arrows... Now he checks that to see if I will be in...
Of course, if the work is on I will stick around so it works both ways a little...
This was such a cool read !!
Would love to know your decision if u can post it someday?
Self employment/managers flexibility is the key
Follow yr water passions dive kite whatever dont waste time in life. Got involved with an unflexible 9-5 office wrker or two..they brainwash u..its a sad existence..owned two houses.never again...u can allways liquidate.all this was such a cool read-thanks.the only constant in life is change
My plan is to buy a yacht..moor up on that and never see a plastic bag again..
Gotta admit, I think I might be one of the luckiest guys on earth...
I Work for the Honolulu Fire Department and my schedule is so good it's ridiculous, plus I love it so much that it's not even a "job". Best part is getting off work at 8:00 AM and heading straight to the water (if we got lucky and weren't busy at night).
I work predominantly from home (I am paid for sending a few emails and making some phone calls, essentially 
) and home is across the street from one of the most popular spots in WA and the country. I can sneak out for a quick lunch session or morning session in winter (gold) or an early arvo session, or even better a sunset session as I don't have to worry about driving back etc.
I also had 2 years off after I was made redundant. Wasn't that enjoyable however as I had to think about what to do next i.e. where the money will come from. First 6 months were fun though.
The crazy thing is that when I was younger I would have killed for having all this. Now that life is perfect (minus the mortgage, but let's face it renting a proper house is not an alternative solution either) I get picky and complain about too many kiters out, the wind not being perfect etc.
When I recovered from an annoying inujry and jumped onto a surfboard for the first time after a 6-9 month break, this is when I got the stoke back, and even though I was just cruising and not doing much it was thoroughly enjoyable. Just like those first months/years when you start kiting.
Also, when you are busy and only get out from time to time, then I realised the enjoyment is actually higher than if you can go out whenever you want. Kind of weird. All a matter of the right dose I guess. 1st world problems I know
This thread is indeed very interesting.
It seems that the blokes that are the happiest are dudes that have managed to find work that is flexible and a location that is within minutes of work and beach allowing them to milk the wind as much as practical.
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
This thread is indeed very interesting.
It seems that the blokes that are the happiest are dudes that have managed to find work that is flexible and a location that is within minutes of work and beach allowing them to milk the wind as much as practical.
Live at beach, work 20 minutes away, only took 28 years to get the work flexibility, yep pretty happy with my lot, caught the last 3 seabreezes by finishing work early to get the wind and tides
Any civil engineers out there who have the work:life ratio in check? If so, what is your strategy?
Select to expand quoteCJ2478 said...
Any civil engineers out there who have the work:life ratio in check? If so, what is your strategy?
I know one flies regularly...ten times a month P to exmouth...not big three week 'on' shifts...so he gets exm after work and P after wrk too... only met a few times through kiting/windsurf wa ... was an iko instr too when a civ eng student. Plenty of sessions..there we go
There's 2 graves Both hold someone of the same age Difference is ones put work before life We all end up in the same spot of dirt I'd like to think I'm the other bl
I used to be a chemical engineer but this summer I'm bartending at Cottesloe Beach so I can kite almost every day! I have time to do a downwinder then hop on the upwinder van back up before work through the week Monday-Friday. During the week I'm less busy and free to kite when the water and beaches are less busy.
Select to expand quoteBletti said..
I used to be a chemical engineer but this summer I'm bartending at Cottesloe Beach so I can kite almost every day! I have time to do a downwinder then hop on the upwinder van back up before work through the week Monday-Friday. During the week I'm less busy and free to kite when the water and beaches are less busy.
Isn't mixing cocktails an advanced form of chemical engineering?
I am extremely jealous ....
I have to an extra 700 hours a year for no extra pay ... That cuts into my kiting time way to much. Now I'm looking at taking a 50k pay cut to increase my potential kiting time to a thousand extra hours.... .It used to be money now think later. Now it's think now money later!
Select to expand quoteCJ2478 said...
Any civil engineers out there who have the work:life ratio in check? If so, what is your strategy?
Start work early, work hard and efficiently, get jobs done quickly, don't spend much time on the net, don't stand around chatting, eat lunch at desk (work through lunch), do your required hours and leave early.
Avoid FIFO if you can. Most EPCM rosters are sh1t.
Select to expand quotediamond2001 said..
I have to an extra 700 hours a year for no extra pay ...
That's ***ed up
You only live once... Money's not going to help you when you're 6 foot under..www.sales.care/
