So I get a text two days ago from Ric saying he's quitting his job. He doesn't have another job to replace it other than a tacit nod from a fellow bike rider who is a head mucky-muck at a low-end pizza restaurant chain that he'd be a cinch to be general manager of a new salad bar concept restaurant they own and are opening in the Orlando area.
Ric already, according to him, talked this over with his mom and he says she was hesitant at first but after he convinced her he was dying a slow death at his current job she agreed to him leaving.
Ric bought his 2 bedroom condo in 2005 during the bubble. He paid $150,000 for it. It's now worth about $75,000 and that's with the more recent upswing in the market. He financed it with no money down and though I don't know at what rate, I think it's not a great one. I think he mentioned once that he pays over $900/month in mortgage plus, I know, the complex has an over $300/month HOA fee. He lives alone and has no boarder income. His credit plummeted a few years ago, he says, due to the accident with the car that hit him while riding his bike and the bad settlement he got from that. Whatever the reason, he now has only a couple of credit cards with rather low limits and they're already nearly maxed out.
Ric became eligible for a driver's licence this year and he was reluctant to get his licence back officially because of the fee. He texted that he bit the bullet and now has a driver's licence after a $310 fee payment.
According to what he told me on the phone yesterday, he's gonna go through with it and quit this job he's had for over 14 years in which he makes over $25/hour. He read me the resignation letter which sounds very formal and pompous.
He speaks about this in terms of the company that will be negatively impacted by him no longer working for them. He brings up the fact he has thousands of dollars in 401K money he'd have access to. He mentions how he'll finally feel free after years of dealing with the bullshit of his incompetent supervisors and oppressive work conditions.
Oh my. This all sounds so familiar.
These are very similar to conditions which set me off on my journey through the long, dark and winding valley of Koyaanisqatsi back in Aught Two (2002 for those not keen on the ol' wheezer version).
My money's on the fact that Ric, like me, is a big ol' drama queen and though he may be pissed at his job and sick of the call center bullshit, he's not gonna throw $25/hour out the window. For our set, that's sick money. Could he make more as manager of a restaurant? Maybe. But I know Ric and I never heard of him working in a restaurant. Ever. How long would he last?
So we'll see. In a few short hours. Is he ready for the ride of his life? Or will he kowtow to the corporate powers that be and nibble quietly hereafter at his bland humble pie?
EDIT @ 11:35 PM: He did it. He really did it. Oh man. Let the slo-mo train wreck begin.
Ric already, according to him, talked this over with his mom and he says she was hesitant at first but after he convinced her he was dying a slow death at his current job she agreed to him leaving.
Ric bought his 2 bedroom condo in 2005 during the bubble. He paid $150,000 for it. It's now worth about $75,000 and that's with the more recent upswing in the market. He financed it with no money down and though I don't know at what rate, I think it's not a great one. I think he mentioned once that he pays over $900/month in mortgage plus, I know, the complex has an over $300/month HOA fee. He lives alone and has no boarder income. His credit plummeted a few years ago, he says, due to the accident with the car that hit him while riding his bike and the bad settlement he got from that. Whatever the reason, he now has only a couple of credit cards with rather low limits and they're already nearly maxed out.
Ric became eligible for a driver's licence this year and he was reluctant to get his licence back officially because of the fee. He texted that he bit the bullet and now has a driver's licence after a $310 fee payment.
According to what he told me on the phone yesterday, he's gonna go through with it and quit this job he's had for over 14 years in which he makes over $25/hour. He read me the resignation letter which sounds very formal and pompous.
He speaks about this in terms of the company that will be negatively impacted by him no longer working for them. He brings up the fact he has thousands of dollars in 401K money he'd have access to. He mentions how he'll finally feel free after years of dealing with the bullshit of his incompetent supervisors and oppressive work conditions.
Oh my. This all sounds so familiar.
These are very similar to conditions which set me off on my journey through the long, dark and winding valley of Koyaanisqatsi back in Aught Two (2002 for those not keen on the ol' wheezer version).
My money's on the fact that Ric, like me, is a big ol' drama queen and though he may be pissed at his job and sick of the call center bullshit, he's not gonna throw $25/hour out the window. For our set, that's sick money. Could he make more as manager of a restaurant? Maybe. But I know Ric and I never heard of him working in a restaurant. Ever. How long would he last?
So we'll see. In a few short hours. Is he ready for the ride of his life? Or will he kowtow to the corporate powers that be and nibble quietly hereafter at his bland humble pie?
EDIT @ 11:35 PM: He did it. He really did it. Oh man. Let the slo-mo train wreck begin.