Do House-Jobs Make You Old?

[UncaBuffalo]

Just testing a theory that putting up with all the politics, etc in a house job ages you. 

(Probably  ALMOST as quickly as raising kids!) 

[SloGlo]

hadda go with the traveler routine,  but i ain't traveled fer while, 'n i ain't house neither.  sew whatsa full time emloyee offa contracting firm supposed to due?  why, take da munny, duh!

[Chimera]

Let's see . . . speaking only for myself (and as an ex-house tech), being a house tech doesn't make you old, but, if you let it, it might make you fat and bitter (laughing).  As a house tech, you get to go home every day and eat regular and you don't run around as much in between outages while at work.  And if you don't remember that is only your job and not your life, taking everything personal can make you bitter.

I'm firmly convinced that "getting older" is more attitudinal than anything else, so I always guard my attitude.  You gotta remember to laugh a lot and enjoy your time away from work.  Don't take your job home.  Heck, I know a lot of road techs who take their jobs home and get bitter, too.

I work for a paycheck.  The paycheck let's me enjoy my life.  Heck, staying out of debt let's me enjoy that paycheck, also.

[darkmatter]

Just testing a theory that putting up with all the politics, etc in a house job ages you. 

Oh Yeah. Since going house my hair has thinned and turned gray. Just the other day someone asked who was that guy on my picture badge with the full head of dark hair?
Also, I have noticed that in twenty years of Rent-A-Teching I only recall having to call in sick (for real) a couple of times. Since going house and putting up with all of the **** I've had more sick days then I can count.
Now I do tend to take the stairs instead of the elevator and can still run up several flights of stairs. I have noticed that those co-workers who take the elevator along with their donuts tend to slow down a bit and expand.

The worst part about going house is the type of co-workers who are more interested in climbing the corporate ladder instead of getting the job done. I always thought teamwork meant working together with a diverse crew to "git r done". I found out that a certain kind of house defined teamwork means "do what I say"

And by the way Kids don't age you, they keep you busy doing the things you almost forgot about.

[alphadude]

climbing the ladder is a job

[Gonzo]

Just testing a theory that putting up with all the politics, etc in a house job ages you. 

(Probably  ALMOST as quickly as raising kids!) 

actually, noooo...  house jobs only make you feeel older...     as for raising kids, nothing is more fun than to put them in a grocery shopping cart with a wet diaper and then passing off the cart to the next shopper...

[ageoldtech]

Being a traveler doesn’t make me feel older; it’s raising Teenagers. It’s like nailing Jello to a tree.

[stormgoalie]

Kids, ex-wives, and money worries, those things make you old.  Hobbies, "lovin", and friends are the things that keep you young.  Finding the proper balance of all things is the trick. 

Cheers,
Jim Rodgers

[Mike McFarlin]

Not old just ugly.

[Imaginos]

...nothing is more fun than to put them in a grocery shopping cart with a wet diaper and then passing off the cart to the next shopper...

Man, you gotta get out more...

[Mike McFarlin]

Been out too much!

[UncaBuffalo]

Okay, the poll numbers seem to be reinforcing what I thought I knew...

Here's the story behind why I asked:

Late '90's...stuck in a house job for WAY longer than I'd ever been anywhere...started seeing grey hairs...and started losing my keys or wallet about once a month...wondering if I was getting Alzheimer's or just getting stupid(er?)...   

2001...back on the road...haven't lost my keys or wallet since...and NO grey hair now!   

Purely anecdotal, I know, but...   

[illegalsmile]

I'm old and mostly bald. I've been commercial and DOE road slut, house tech and operator.....I think living has made me old.

[UncaBuffalo]

Late '90's...stuck in a house job for WAY longer than I'd ever been anywhere...started seeing grey hairs...

2001...back on the road...and NO grey hair now!   

Purely anecdotal, I know, but...   

AAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been back in a house job for barely a week now...and just saw not one but TWO grey hairs!!!    These are the first ones in 5 years!

[Mike McFarlin]

House jobs have very little to do with gray hairs appearing. Its whats at the house that causes them. Personal experience!

[Gonzo]

settle down unc, settle down...  no need to panic...   if you start seriously losing your topknot just call Bruce...   I know you still have his number...  it's in your subconscience somewhere and he's always there for you...

[cbramsey]

I have been on both sides of this fence.

I just took the voluntary separation package Fermi offered at the end of September and have never been happier. 

[grantime]

The poll just asked for those over 30.  I'm betting that many(most?) of us are over 40 if not 50.  That may have more to do with grey or bald than anything else.  Lucky for me I've still got most of my hair and it hasn't changed color yet even after 23 years of house tech work one place or another.  But like someone else said my weight has changed a bit.

[UncaBuffalo]

settle down unc, settle down...  no need to panic...   if you start seriously losing your topknot just call Bruce...   I know you still have his number...  it's in your subconscience somewhere and he's always there for you...

Took your advice and hit the highway again a couple months ago...and NO grey hairs now!!!

[JessJen]

actually, noooo...  house jobs only make you feeel older...     as for raising kids, nothing is more fun than to put them in a grocery shopping cart with a wet diaper and then passing off the cart to the next shopper...

At the toddler stage they make you break even karmicly for that type of act...sure you got the other person...but you never realize you have 10 cans of salt free corn in your groceries until you get home and start unpacking.  It's so much fun when they help you shop!

[Brett LaVigne]

Things that make you old...other than time.

Bad relationships, money problems, jobs you hate to go to, kids growing up and beginning to explore the world, drugs or alcohol in excess, smoking and watching too much CNN.

The Fix:

Improve communication with your spouse or get rid of them, sell some of your stuff or get a better job, find a more satisfying job, let your kids know you love them and talk to them about everything, moderate your substance use, stop smoking, turn off the damn TV and find something to do outside

Now you are happy and aging at an appropriate rate.

[rlbinc]

In my experience, house jobs contribute to boredom, career stagnation, paranoia, and poverty.
From doing repetitive tasks, with little promotional opportunity, modern managerial charm and all for massive hours of unpaid overtime.

Besides that, house jobs are great.

I still have red hair and I'm 50.

[randyman56]

Do house-jobs make you old.  NO.  i started as a house tech then hit the road for 20 plus years and now have been a house mouse for 6 years.  i don't feel old (well maybe a little) and i don't look old. 

i am not a recruiter but those of you that have been on the road for 20 plus years and are looking to settle down, you should look at Hanford.  this is a great place to retire from.

randyman56

[UncaBuffalo]

Oops...here I go again! 

Start the clock on that 'grey-hair-watch'...  :/

[UncaBuffalo]

Oops...here I go again! 

Start the clock on that 'grey-hair-watch'...  :/

AAACK...here come the grey hairs again... 

[Lorrie Henson]

What about a category of greying but NOT balding?

Of course, that's why they made L'Oreal... LOL

 

[UncaBuffalo]

So, in my case at least, I've proven that my grey hair is definitely related to my job/situation.

And, here's another example:  I'd given up on my facial hair being part of the greying/non-greying equation...it's been predominantly white for years.  But, I've spent the past two years clean-shaven due to job requirements.  Let the whiskers grow while I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago and...they are mostly dark again!

Guess the current gig puts me in my young state-of-mind/body!





...and no grey hair on my head right now either! 

[hamsamich]

Just guessing but I think you are right in my experience....

[Bonds 25]

Going house is still the greatest decision Ive ever made in my life.....only negative: Not seeing those interesting people on the road.  I take off an entire month during the summer.....its not the whole summer like roading.....but its plenty.

[Content1]

Going house is still the greatest decision Ive ever made in my life.....only negative: Not seeing those interesting people on the road.  I take off an entire month during the summer.....its not the whole summer like roading.....but its plenty.

     I have to compare to the times when I was a house tech or working at a permanent job versus my time on the road. I spent some time from June, 2009 to January, 2012 at the Lawrence Livermore lab. I found a wasted the first six months there retraining on what I already knew. Once the actual job started it was quickly mastered then the fun went out of it. The lab there is run closer to a country club where all the good old boys on a first name basis. If you resist becoming a “good old boy” with all the socialization activities you will be labeled an outsider. I found a job got to be so routine and without challenge and I kept seeking ways to get a different job. During this time there was a government pay freeze which didn’t help matters. When I made the mistake of going to my supervisors explaining how I like to progress it put an expiration date on my stay there. I was eventually laid off for “budgetary reasons” and I recall the day I was being laid off I called Joey at Bartlett and found a job back on the road in one hour.
    I’ve always loathed permanent jobs because of the politics and butt kissing that goes on to keep your job. I like the road because they really need you. As soon as they don’t need you, they lay you off.  The job is usually different each time with new people who care more about the money they make the trying to get their enjoyment being mean to each other. During the three months or so I am off I am able to explore other avenues to be independent. I’m working on my first science fiction novel. The research to prepare for this novel has expanded my intellectual pursuits. It seems you never have time to grow on a house except in political ways. When I joined the Navy the Navy tried to control me to think their way; you get the same effect at most house jobs. If you are not the type to be controlled than you should not be a house tech.  I find the stress associated with manipulative associates tends to age you far more rapidly than you when you are not under the stress of meeting political goals.

[surf50]

I think that being house makes you feel old, while traveling makes you look old. It's tough physically traveling, plus contractors usually work harder. (There are exceptions on both sides).
When I started traveling after 20+ years house I was shocked, (SHOCKED I tell you..) to see how hard the outage contractors worked. Embarrassingly, my work pace had atrophied, like an unused muscle.
We house techs thought of ourselves as just being there in case something happens. If you weren't a self starter you could be bored.

And most of the house politics/co-worker issues can be avoided by simply working backshift.

[scotoma]

No, time makes you old. Whether you are house doing the house thing or on the road bouncing from one place to another. You get out of it what you put into it. Thre is always something new to learn if you look for it or you can just do your time and go home.