You all know that, so what’s the point of telling you?

No point really, it’s just that sometimes you feel it more than other times and tonight is one of those times.

I’m just in the middle of filling out a dirty big bunch of forms about the last 35 years of my working life and I decided to take a break and check out what you blokes were up to. And what you’re up to is what you should be up to, getting life’s crap out of your heads and heading down to the water with a lump of plastic under your arms.

So why is it so important to live for the day and what’s that got to do with all these stupid forms? Well this week I got an invite to a party in July out at Emu Plains Sporting Club, it came from a lady I had never heard of but I have known her husband for over 20 years, Alan. It’s an invite to his farewell, he’ll soon be dying of Mesothelioma and they want to have his party while they still can.

It’s a shock to me and not just because he was as fit as a fiddle 3 months ago when I last saw him but also because even before I knew him, he and I worked for many years on the same projects all over Sydney, him on the fire services and sprinklers, me on the air conditioning.

Since I got the news I figured it was time I did something to help my family, just in case, so I’m registering with the Dust Diseases Board so I can get regular 3 yearly checks. There’s bugger all they can do if you get it, but the earlier you know, the sooner they can start seeking some compensation for the family.

I don’t know how I’ll cope seeing Alan one last time but I know I’ll be wanting to have a nice quiet surf for a hour or two the day before and the day after.

I’m seriously thinking of not going back to a full time job after I leave this job on June 11, life’s just too short not to surf.

Oh well, back to the forms.

Good post OBCT . its true , that only a surfer knows the feeling. Life is simpler when you surf and alot of people dont understand that. Im sorry to hear about your friend Alan but your post has hit a nail with me. NON of us know how much we have but I guess its what you do with that time that matters most!

Peace

Sorry to heart the sad news mate. I am at stage of my life where I face the decision to progress my career to the next level. Increased hours, more stress and possibly a relationship strain all because in general you ar encouraged to push yourself and develop your career, get out of your comfort zone blah blah. On the upside there will eventually be better money, security etc...

All I can think about is when will I get to surf?? The bad thing about that is that would be seen as a joke if you were to not take on an opportunity as It you may not get to surf as often, but it is a serious issue for me as part in part it is one of the things I live for. Its good fitness, keeps you motivated, is a lifestlye and for the life of me I cant think of my life without it. Im just gonna sit on the decision as long as I can and hopefully I find the answer in time

Souwester,

I have been in your situation before, and made the career choice. Whilst I still think it was the correct decision, it has certainly impacted my time in the water - and then all that comes with less surfing - more stress, weight, bloodpressure...etc

I have since been offered a couple of very big roles, but in all cases the hours and responsibility were substantially more (as was the money) - however, I have elected not to take them as I feel it is more important to balance your family life (which includes your own time in the water).

The mortgage will get paid one day...

Definately gotta make the most of the humble sport of surfing while you can for whatever reason I guess. I just hope I make the right decision for all involved

Speaking of which I am still at my bloody desk!!Will get a wave tomorrow to make up for it

Post of the year obct, sorry to hear about your friend.
I still am loosing the balance in life battle at the moment
I 'll give it two more years and see how things shape up
and then make some changes to give me more me time.

mac

I'm sending out a few CVs here and there but I'm seriously considering getting out of building management and in particular the Sydney CBD.

Paid off the mortgage years ago and no matter how hard I work, I'm never going to be a millionaire so what's the point of knocking myself out.

For $1400 I can do a 1 week course to get a security license and maybe get a job doing a few nights each week rattling door locks locally and the rest of the day is mine.

I'm even considering working as a Gold buyer in a booth down at DY for my wife's boss. I could handle having a gun shoved in my face a couple of times a year if it means being close to all my favorite playgrounds. Besides, I'm no hero, they can take what they like, hell, I'll even help them carry it out to the car.

onya obct, chin up, sry to hear `bout your mate.

obct,sorry to hear about your mate.My way of thinking after doing double shifts and w/end work only to loose just about everything through a divorce 4 years ago is this,i came into this world with nothing and i go out with nothing,so all i need is enough money to have a few drinks go out for dinner and buy a board when needed.By the way at work we took 2 pay cuts 12% and at first i thought what am i working for.As it turns out i am now working 3 weeks on and 1 week off and there is no way i want to go back to our original roster,i have adjusted to a quality of life at this stage imo.

I've stuffed an awful lot of things in my life but I can honestly say that the one thing I managed to get right was my partner in life, it may be just a matter of good luck but it certainly has helped me financially.

We've been together for 37 years and married for 35 so there's a good chance it'll go till one of us turns tits up.

I feel sorry for some of my old mates who are on their 2nd and sometimes 3rd marriage, most of them were much smarter than me and had heaps of business acumen so they were able to start over again but they're still working hard when in fact the should be retired.

Mind you, there's been more than one I've not felt so sorry for once I've set eyes on the latest hotty they've scored. But then a few years later they've often broken up again and a bit more of their bread is down the gurgler and their kids will get a little less.

You've got a new surfing partner starting the end of the week obct - I'm going to have a 1 week head start on you though.

Possibly not.

I've been approached to take up a position as National Operations & Engineering Manager for a Major Assets group (that means big buildings) commencing the Tuesday after I leave this job.

It's the same company I worked for for 13 years so I'm already a bit sick and tired of them.

I've got a lot of soul searching to do before June 11, do I really need more of this crap?

I'm seeing the guy tomorrow night after a meeting of a low energy high rise group that we both belong to.

How about this? If the dude is a surfer, I'll work there

If he's not, I'll go surf'n and try to get a real life.

Sounds like a win/win to me?

Fair enough - I've got a couple leads thinking it might be worth taking a week or 2 off to surf first though.

I've just retired........

Governments all over he world are running scared from us boomers, they've now got me up to 66.5 for retirement, the missus is a tad more.

I bet they move me again before I get there.

Don't they know that when you surf you stay nice and healthy and you're not a burden on the health system?? Why, they should be supplying us with boards and vans and sending us on surf trips

let's just keep quiet about all those drugs and all that grog we got thorough in the 60s and 70s

Select to expand quote

Lfish said...

I've just retired........

Thats great,now you have time the make us all a log

Select to expand quote

obct said...





let's just keep quiet about all those drugs and all that grog we got thorough in the 60s and 70s

ha ha ha.....in the 60`s and 70`s people took acid to make the word weird...now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.....go figure

This topic is a killer
L-fish, logs for all LOL.
To busy to surf/shape my board,and I'm only 35

XXL Hazza

Hey OBCT head over to collaroy in the next couple of days surfing with the local longboard crew on a sizable day is a great experience ,some of these guys are well into their veteran years but to use a song title from Nirvana '' It smells like teen spirit " I am hoping that you help to make Alans last party uplifting and to help him forget for a while that his time is short We all deserve better but when do we really decide when things are better . Like the awesome sea ,better seems to come as peaks and troughs . What is most confusing to balance is Live now pay later or Pay now live later . the clock is ticking Good luck with everything

Select to expand quote

62mac said...

Lfish said...

I've just retired........

Thats great,now you have time the make us all a log

I can be bribed...........

Rum

mac,you don't need RUM look what it did to you,kept you out of the surf.By the way mac my arms are so tired from paddling,looks like the swell is on the increase so i'll have to attack mac's bank in the next few days and possibly next week if those SE keepblowing.By the way i have just sold my 2x 1968 single fins so i am on the lookout for another mal.I said to the guys whom i sold the boards to look i had all intentions of surfing the short boards but in reality i am now a longboarder forever.mac i wonder if that has got anything to do with my age and more so weight.Keep surfing.

Rum kills the pain The knee is on the mend and all going well sould be good to go this weekend which means less waves for you asea Nah all good.

Good to see your arns are falling off you must be surfing the house down
Your in the prime of your life young man keep ripping my friend.

Dont know where you guys are surfing to wear your arms out but it certainly isn't middle goldy or close by to the south. Had a paddle at kingy this morning but you know its tragic when you surf a beachy for an hour and don't get your hair wet - and it aint that I am too good to get wet, trust me. There is swell trying to get into kingy but the strong westerlies are keeping it out there. I don't honestly reckon it is going to improve - it will probably go SE and be blown out from a different direction

It was funny though when I walked down the beach at kingy when this old timer said to me "nothing out there matey - wasting your time". Just smiled and said to him "it's ok mate, I love it when the crowd thins out like this - its perfect". The old guy looked up and down the beach and shook his head and said "whaddya mean theres no-one out as far as I can see in any direction". He just didn't get it