Taking a leap, Moving to Florida on my own

Hey guys, finally a post by me that isn't inherently negative. After my last thread many people suggested learning a trade and after thinking real hard and looking at local trade schools I decided on welding. I talked to my dad about it and by coincidence the company he works for just bought a factory in northern Florida desperately looking for new hands. The job includes full benefits and payed vacations and trains you to weld! After thinking on it real hard I decided this was the best course of action. The only thing I have in New York is friends and family, in my area there are no jobs I could start at that could benefit me so much and that I'll learn so much from. There i'll start to learn a new trade and be payed to do so.

I'm extremely anxious about this move to be honest, I'll be truly alone for the first time in my life. I have one more month up here before I move all my stuff and leave. This is all happening extremely fast. Buy hey, at least i'm moving forward with my life.

 

Life is full of adventures. Don't worry if it doesn't work out - you never know until you try. Just let the wind fill your sails and see where it takes you.

 

Welding is a solid trade. Try to get as many certifications as offered by the training program. Learning all you can is always a good choice.

Best of luck.

 

Glad to hear the news. Doing nothing is also a decision, but it has no options, trying something new may or may not work, but it least opens up new paths. I hope that this works out for you and welding is both a good trade and something well worth knowing for its utility even if you in the end don't make it your lifetime career. It really helps if your family is supportive and it sounds as if they are. Learned electronics in USAF, got out and went to college, got degrees and started my "career", found out I hated both the office and the politics, made a decent living for the last 45 years, raised a family, am enjoying my old age,all based on what the military taught me. Life has many paths, some are dead ends, some lead to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, will not know where they lead until you try them. Good luck in your new adventure and hang in there.

 

Well done, Baily!

Grasp the opportunity offered to you with both hands! Welding is a good trade with many opportunities for the well trained, competent tradesperson. It is a beginning which has the potential for taking you as far as you wish to go.

One of my brothers trained as a welder / boilermaker and worked in metal fabrication for a number of years before taking advantage of opportunities in the sales and marketing of industrial gases from which he made a very comfortable living for him and his family.

A nephew of mine became a tool maker and eventually became a sought after consultant in making artificial hearts...he now works as an aboriginal educator, providing aboriginal high school students with basic pre-apprenticeship metal trades skills. He loves his job, which gives him much job satisfaction...( the students' favourite tool in the workshop is the vacuum cleaner...he probably has the cleanest workshop in the Northern Territory)

Both my brother and nephew used their trade qualifications and experience as launching boards towards other rewarding jobs.

I guess what I am saying, is that its up to you as to how far and how fast you go. Keep us posted with how you are going, and don't be afraid to ask for support and encouragement from those in your new home and from your fellow monkeys.

You may perhaps initially feel alone in your new home...but there is no reason why you couldn't find friends and allies where you work and live.

My best wishes go with you, Baily

 

Badass. Getting out and away is sometimes the best thing ever.

 

Sic 'em Baily! Glad to hear you're charging onward.

 

That's not a bad trade to have. Moving out is a big step in growing up. The outside world is a tricky place sometimes. Be careful who you pick for friends. Remember , for every action , there is a reaction. Think about your decisions, and the consequences of that decision. A bad decision can have some really bad setbacks. Good luck on your move and your new career.

 

You don't have to be lonely when your alone. Make sure you find something to fill your down time. Reading is a good option; about your chosen trade or prepper fiction (my favorite). Good luck to you. You have options now you won't have later with a wife, kids and a mortgage.

 

Having nearby friends and family to help you out is not always beneficial. For some people, it takes away their motivation to do anything on their own.

Moving to a place where you don't know anyone and there is nobody around to bail you out of every little setback forces one to be resourceful and fend for themselves.

I don't know you personally, but based on your post history here on SM, I think it would be a great idea for you to start clean in a new environment where there isn't always a "life raft" nearby.

Good luck and God bless. Let us know how things progress.

 

@BailyTheFox I am so proud of you. It will be hard and lonely the first few months but soon you will enjoying you new life. I am so happy for you. Very wise.

 

It is great skill to have even if you do not make this your lasting profession. I wish I knew how to weld and have always wanted to learn. Also, when opportunity knocks you have to open the door and throw caution to the wind because they might not knock again. You will need to get there earlier than your start date, of course, to learn the area a bit (the road system, where to grocery shop, where is your workplace located, etc.) and find a place to live. Best of luck. Life is either an adventure or it's nothing.

 

Great to hear Lots of good job opportunities for welders. A good friend's son is a welder and he was able to find a good job.

 

Doing nothing is a decision i've made too many times and shocker here, nothing happens! My family is extremely supportive, my dad struck out on his own just like this when he was 18 and has been helping me get all the details sorted. He's gonna tow my car behind his and we're gonna load all my stuff in so I can make it in one trip. Should be interesting with a rat, a bird, my snakes, and my fish!

Dayum, your nephew has had one hell of an awesome life! My plan here is for this to be the beginning of me finally being able to learn useful stuff and meet new people who can bring me closer to my end goal.

I'm always a overly cautious person, its honestly been what holds me back. But it isn't a habit I'm likely to break any time soon, I am very selective with who I pick for friends. I take friends extremely seriously.

Thats the plan, me and my dad are gonna get down a few days early and he'll help me get settled before I start.

 

I agree on the life raft thing, its time for me to mature. I'll keep you guys updated.

 

I say get out of ny, that place is depressing.

 

Unless you can somehow reciprocate helping the helpers, I think you well advised to get busy learning without looking for help. Dependencies are addictive. Presumably, you have two feet for standing unaided. Use 'em.