Interesting work conundrum

So I work about 130 give or take miles out of town as an EMT for a small town of 2300+-.

Currently I work 4 on 4 off but in order to be there for my shifts I have to leave a day early and a day late. So it's really 5 on 3 off with travel and fucking around.

I pay about $150 a month for a single room, (not anymore though, shit has happened and a friend took me in for free for the mean time).

I live in Calgary a City of well over 1 million, so small town bullshit really doesn't affect me because I'm just here to work. Lately though I've been catching the lions share of it though and I'm not entirely sure why. According to one member of the staff I'm burning bridges with some of the other staff, something I really do not care about because I'm not going to get dragged into the petty crap that goes on.

Here is my issue though. With gas, rent and buying food just to work, and my abysmal pay I'm forced to choose between the career I enjoy doing mostly with people I enjoy working with, or making a decent wage doing something else.

My last paycheque was 3 digits not including funds east of the decimal point.

When I worked oil field a boring but lucrative business, I was making in 3 days what I did in 2 weeks. The down side was being away from family for 3 weeks at a time and with a 10 month old it's a hard pill to swallow.

However financial issues are an even harder one with a brand new mortgage, a wife still on maturity leave and $680/month truck. I really cannot afford to sell the truck because I need a reliable vehicle to be able to work either oil field or my current Rural EMS job.

I'm pretty much just ranting and off loading.

I got called a mooch today and it's not a very nice thing to be called since there has been more than one day on a tour that I've only had one meal a day because that's all I can afford to have.

 

I know how you feel man. I live 5 and a half hours away from my closest family. But I make really good money to live here. I think about moving all the time. But the cost of living is a lot higher where my family lives. And jobs aren't there like they used to be. Good luck figuring it out though.

 

I'm waiting to hear back from the EMS in the city that I live in, because they did a big hire and a little bird told me that they are going to contact me.

So I've at least got that going for me.

I'm just trying to figure out if I should even wait that long and just say "Fuck it" here, and go work the patch again for 2-3 weeks till they call.

Or even if they don't just say fuck it and work the patch anyways.

Hell, Unemployment Insurance pays just about as much as I do right now, and I would be a hell of a lot more comfortable than I currently am.

 

If you jump to fast and things don't go in your favor then you might end up being away from your family for even longer. I guess it just depends on how stressed you are now. I have my days at work where I'm ready to say screw it and throw my keys on the desk and walk out to. But I go home and think about the big picture and how i'm going to make my truck payment to. lol. I'd say give it some time and see if you get the other job... Then if you don't then maybe do the oil field deal.

 

Why not move to the city you work in? Or apply in other cities as well?

 

I don't work in a city. I work in a POS town of 2300+-.

The shit here is fucking ridiculous. Stores close a 7pm, not even open on Sundays.

WTF? I'm not living somewhere I can't get milk on a Sunday afternoon.

Second we just bought a house in the Big City where all our family is so moving is out of the question, not to mention my wife who makes double what I make works in the very same City.

I've applied everywhere. The demand for jobs is insane. The demand for positions not so much. And with the Province (Think State) taking over our EMS system no where has been hiring for the better part of a year now so there are so many people to fill so little positions that it's a real pain in the ass.

 

OIC

Well you gotta support the family first. Even though you love your current line of work, it can and needs to be on the backburner. Oil, construction, whatever. Do what you gotta do. Bring in the money and hopefully something opens up for you in the future for EMS.

 

That's kinda what I'm leaning towards. It's getting to the point where I don't even want to work here anymore. Everyone has to know everything about everyone, and the goddamn rumors just run wild.

Everyone keeps talking about how bad big cities are, how nobody knows anyone and it's blah blah blah blah.

Fuck.

I love the City. People actually know how to mind their own goddamn business and not get involved in the affairs of other people. I have my boss telling my landlady/Coworker she needs to charge me more for rent and other coworkers telling friends I'm trying to stay with not to let me stay with them cause I'll fuck them over.

It's like I need to start bashing skulls together.

 

Pull the plug on Tim-buk-5 and stay close to Mama Bear .

Winter is coming .

 

Damn, and to think I just changed my Crackbook status.

Edit - Fuck it, that just became the new status. Wonder if any of the Rimbeyites will pick up on it.

 

You would post after I've been listening to a lot of Under Tow.

 

Which one? The current one or the old one that lasted 2 mintues?

Sure?

 

I thought it was a Tool lyric to be perfectly honest.

 

If it was me, I'd try to stick it out until you at least know one way or another about the other EMS job you applied for.

 

That's more like it.

 

No matter where you work there will be assholes, brownosers, back stabbers, and the like. There are also good guys and best buddies. Some places have more of one and less of the others.
Sometimes, you have to suck it up and do what pays the bills. Bide your time until you can do what you love. Until then, stay in the books and keep up on your training.
Good luck, and hang in there! It took me two years of working in a shithole to work where I am now. Luck is where planning and opportunity meet.

 

At least somewhere else I'll get paid a decent living wage.

Hmm, interesting things to think about.