Job Search at age 60

 Yep.  with almost no documented employment.  hustory.That's the side of being self employed that potential employers are weary of.  Employers are also cautious about hiring a self employed person because they tend to think for themselves and avoid being micro managed.  Managers like to manage, not have a self sufficient person making decisions without running to supervisor for everything . 

Yeah well, what's my point ?  Don't really have one. Just prepping myself for not being considered for employment.  The whole process is a shit show.  I went thru it last year when I applied at BJ'S Wholesale Club.  The assessments are cring at max level. What would I do if a co worker was depressed,  what about a mass shooter entering the building,  what about a co worker with mental issues, what about a co worker stealing,  and on and on.  Yo dude. I just wanna stock the shelves. not be a head shrink and give advice to fucked up people.  Maybe I'm the one that needs the advice.  

So now I've decided to apply for 3rd shift stock at Harris Teeter which is a 5 minute drive from my base camp. It's also right across highway from the bike trail and only minutes to my gym. I consider these things a win. I'm not looking for a career or to climb the corporate ladder. I'm looking for how this job fits in with my life . It is night work. Yeah, sucks. But the good side is I'll have days to do what I want.  I would work from 10pm to 7am.  Stay awake till around 2pm then sleep 7 hours and back to work at 10pm.  So an example day off On a Wednesday would be from 7am on a Tuesday to next report to work on Thursday 10pm.  Sounds like a long weekend almost.  I really would like a regular paycheck.  I'm helping my mom out and it's digging into my savings more then I like.  I could also still crab on a part time basis which is actually better then a full-time basis.  

I'm sitting here going thru the online application process and my shit looks weak.  I'd be real curious if I read my job application from someone else's perspective.  How does this guy exist without a documented income, not much work history for a 60 year old man 🤔.  Has he been in prison his whole life ? Is he a drug dealer perhaps.  We searched our data banks and did  sneaky background checks on him and NOTHING !  Very perplexing indeed.  No income tax records available either. Hmn ! Is this guy a secret spy from corporate? No....  they'd have a transparent background established to avoid suspicion.  This is strange...... let's get him in here and meet this guy.   

Oh well.  I can always run a post on market place and do dump runs , I have a truck and did just that many years ago.  Made damn good money,  that's how I started my landscape business.  Should have stayed in junk hauling. 

  I'll be typing more words later.  I got side tracked on the work history section of job application.  I collected unemployment for a while and can't show any employment while collecting benefits.  Keep those dates from crossing over. I'm absolutely certain the unemployment office would be on me like Hitlers SS on a Jewish family out in farm country circa 1939. 

Life is Funny. Now Im funny too.

 Crabbing is an expensive hobby. I need a steady income.  I stopped by the old Dollar store and told them I'm looking. We shall see. I told the merch manager Im probably on don't not hire list since it was a debacle how I was "fired".  

Left my number and he said he'll pass it to store manager.  He said , Oh you're Ray , I've heard a LOT about you. I replied that can't be good.  It really would suck if I can't even get rehired at a shit job such as Dollar Tree.  Hahaha. If this doesn't happen it off to Harris Teets for a online application as stocker.  would probably take the plunge and try for full-time nights.  It's gotta be a shit job since it open and continuous posting. 

Crabbing commercially is a great side hustle, I need to  keep it as just that.  

Peace out all my imaginary readers.  Hopefully I'll be back to putting boxes and cans on shelves and earning some money soon. 

Update. Aug.4th. 2022

 Been doing some p.t. crabbing this summer. not making much money but plan on expanding for next season.  The addition of a refrigerated trailer is essential for this operation.  I need to keep crabs alive for a few days after catching them .  So the plan is buy a used trailer and insulate it. add a cool bot system and there is my refrigerated trailer.  Bam ! 

Next random thoughts are planning the boat camping trip.  It's so hot these days I haven't even been out on boat so I have time to think about boat stuff.  

I'd like to do a #SO24 as #Rivendale calls the bike camping beginners technique.  Kinda ease into the experience.  Stay close to home, camp overnight and  get the feel for it. I'll apply the same theory to boat camping.   I guess it gets on eout of their comfort zone gradually.  I'm not too concerned about my comfort zone as I'd like to get a few trips experience a d make sure I have what I need a d want on board. I won't be pulling up to any convince stores or grocery stores for supplies.  I'll be #boondocking on a beach or anchored in a safe cove . 

I'll need to prepare for a list of things from recharging phone,boat battery, sleeping gear, mosquitoe netting,  cooler and ice management,  cookware, camping cook stove, which will be my #coleman 1 burner green bottle #camping stove.  For the SO24 I'll probably keep food simple. A few prepaid sandwiches and instant coffee for am.  Bur for the multi day trips I'll need to carry food and cook.  That'll be part of the fun. I could live on sandwiches but I want to cook alo g the way. 

I'll have on board a few fishing rods also.  2 gallon of water for each planned day of camping plus some for reserve.   I plan on exploring along the way.  Not just hauling ass up the river. I want to stop and fish where ever looks interesting,  stop and beach the boat and take. breaks and just look around. I'll definitely need to install a bimini top or red neck style it and use a patio umbrella for shade on the boat. Don't want full sun on me all day. 

Logistics.  park at boat ramp, leave truck and trailer. Risky for sure. Thrives stealing catalytic converters and gas all over.  

pack list., 

COOLER, ice, food, water, pedialyte,  coffee, propane stove and 2 bottles. cook pot. spoon, knife. * ice, not  sure block or bag.  

HYGIENE,  toothbrush and paste, razor, liquid soap, bath towel, 5 gal.bucket,  Toilet paper, fingernail clippers,  Hempvana cream for cramps in legs.

FIRST AID KIT. *  SUNSCREEN * SUNGLASSES,  Multiple pair. Reading glasses,  multiple pairs. 

WATER,   2 gallon per planned day of camping plus reserve for emergency.  

Boat, 6 gallon of gas, necessary tools, extra prop, safety kit, flares, etc.  2nd boat battery as back up. 

 * more to follow. 

End of P.T. job.

 well that little gig is done.  I was asking God for a signal which way to proceed with work. This morning I got that signal. I was undecided Should I stay with the part time retail job or get back out on the water and commercial crab and fish. With the current fuel prices and bait prices I really am skeptical weather people have the disposable income for luxuries such as crabs for 75-85.00 $ a dozen.  I guess I'll find out.

  I feel catching and selling fish will be more consistent then selling crabs.  Around here crabs are a summer time necessity but not when people are struggling to put gas in their car and food on the table.  Crabs will still be in demand on the following,  Father's day,  July 4th weekend and Labor day.  Fish, catfish more specifically and a few lbs of white pertch should sell consistently since it's more of a food item then steamed crabs.  Makes more  sense to spend 7.00 a lb on catfish fillet then 75.00$ for a dozen live unsteamed crabs.  I'm hoping.  I'll be chasing both crabs and fish, maybe put my eel pots in and see what I can do . I'd like to sell lives to restaurants,  that's gonna require some door knocking.  I think it's me that does the searching and door knocking,  they haven't been seeking me ,that's for sure. 

#commercialcrabbing #commercial fishing 

boat camping trip

 I'm thinking of taking my 14ft aluminum boat on a 2 to 3 day camping trip.  Starting at Kent Island Md. and going up the Chester river to Chestertown Md.  Close guess on distance is approximately 20 miles .  The river continues on, I might consider traveling up river further. More thoughts on this trip later. 

 

plan of action

 Store hours are being cut. Don't know why, doesn't make sense but I'll be turning those free hours into commercial crabbing and fishing time.  That's my original plan anyway.  To work as a stock dummy in off season then work crabs and fish in season. Makes sense since that's where the money is.  I adapted to a regular pay check and steady income from the beginning of this job. Not much money but steady work.  With gas and bait prices through the roof  I was kinda content with the income from store job.  But this little push of the hours being cut might be just what I need .  I don't have to catch much to make more money then I am now, it's more about getting out of comfort zone. 

My plan was-is to work p.t. in off season then do commercial fish in season until age 62 . I then would collect S.S. and do commercial crab and fish  for my income.  Maybe I should re evaluate this.  Maybe I should up the focus on fishing now and see where the road leads. I think Im stepping  over 20.00 bills to pick up 1.00 bills with working this retail stocking shelves job. Amazing how I can take the path of least resistance and feel comfortable with it.  But then again it's probably because I know everyday on the water is not profitable.  haha. The full time commercial guys say, "anyday not in the red is a good day " . I'm well aware of the self employed life style.  That's probably why I'm satisfied with working for a paycheck instead of busting ass everyday for a possible profit. 

Anyway,  I will be pursuing the commercial fish and crab venture this season, even if on a part time basis.  I see a future in catfishing here. 

Well,  it's 7:15 am on Memorial day.  In parked in front of store waiting to do a 3 and half hour shift. Hardly worth the time of showing up, but wanna keep this job for a while.  Time to punch in and watch all the hot women who insist on dressing as cock teasers and  go shop at the Dollar store. 

                              Ray

Working retail.

 Took this gig last October, 2021 as a winter job.  I been saying I will get a winter job for several years now and never have.  Well I'm still here and actually not hating it too much.  Retail is new to me. Stocking shelves drinks cooler and freezer section is my main job.  Not difficult work but the being on one's feet all shift is tiring.  I think I'll be OK.  

Being a van dweller affords me the opportunity to work for less then poverty scale income, literally.  The job pays shit wages but everything else about it works for me. Location, hours, indoor work and steady income seal the deal. Dealing with the public is a new and  interesting thing,  but that's a story for another time. 

I'm typing this post to myself while on a 30 minute lunch break.  No one else will be reading this,  haha. So this will be a future look back into my perspective on this day, after unloading 1100 pcs. truck delivery. 

I really started wondering about my sanity since I actually like this job. I blamed and still do  blame the  bad brain Fog from covid for questioning my sanity and judgment.  Oh well. Do mentally challenged people realize they are challenged  ?  Catch 22.  

Living out of a van is still totally awesome.  I been at this close to 11 years.  It's really convenient to have lunch break on the parking lot of where I work, in my Roadtrek class B. 

I recall questioning my sanity after a few years of van dwelling in the beginning of this journey.  I still ask myself why a single guy , especially a younger man would pay very expensive rent moneys for a place to sleep. 

#vanlife #Roadtrek #ClassB