(no subject)
I had finally switched out some of my icons, and discovered for this entry I need one that's someone being pensive/thoughtful. It never ends!
Anyway, in a shocking turn of events, I found myself missing the field this morning. I haven't been in the field since early June of last year, when I managed to re-injure my knee by getting caught up in fence wire, tripping, and hyper-extending it. It's still not right and I'm still dealing with worker's comp, but we won't go into that nonsense right now. At any rate, I hadn't really been missing the field, because being in the office let's me do things I want to do--not just at work (I much prefer doing research and writing than hiking around), but also in my day-to-day life. I can make PLANS. I can make appointments without worrying my schedule will change at the last minute. It's amazing.
But I miss per diem. For those who don't know, per diem is basically a daily cash allowance the company pays when you're in the field to compensate you for food and lodging. Different companies pay different rates--some will give you money for food, but set you up in a hotel themselves (often with a roommate). Sometimes they only pay you exactly what you shell out and you have to give them receipts and return any extra money. My company is kind of awesome, though, because they give you a flat amount and you can do with it whatever you please, meaning if you can find cheap enough lodging, or camp, or whatever, you can save a LOT of money. This was how I funded a lot of my fancy computer-getting and camera buying in the past. It was like a second income, and now that I haven't had it in nearly two years (the project I re-injured myself on was local, so we didn't get per diem), I'm sort of missing it because there's all kinds of things I'd like to buy, and now I can't afford them without saving up for quite some time.
In particular, I really want an iPad. They're just kind of awesome and pretty and shiny. When I thought about it this morning, I realized that if I was to go in the field and save just HALF of the per diem I'd get, I would be enough to buy an iPad. Isn't that ridiculous? If I was able to go out for just one 10-day session, I could buy an iPad! And probably some accessories, too.
However, when I was in the field, and getting all this extra cash to buy things, I was fucking miserable. I dreaded going to work each and every day. I hated being hot, sweaty and dirty every day (or cold, stiff and miserable, depending on the time of year). In the end I've realized that the old saying is true: money does not buy happiness. I'm so much happier now that I get to be in town all the time, and go home to my cats and my own bed every evening.
But I still want an iPad.
Anyway, in a shocking turn of events, I found myself missing the field this morning. I haven't been in the field since early June of last year, when I managed to re-injure my knee by getting caught up in fence wire, tripping, and hyper-extending it. It's still not right and I'm still dealing with worker's comp, but we won't go into that nonsense right now. At any rate, I hadn't really been missing the field, because being in the office let's me do things I want to do--not just at work (I much prefer doing research and writing than hiking around), but also in my day-to-day life. I can make PLANS. I can make appointments without worrying my schedule will change at the last minute. It's amazing.
But I miss per diem. For those who don't know, per diem is basically a daily cash allowance the company pays when you're in the field to compensate you for food and lodging. Different companies pay different rates--some will give you money for food, but set you up in a hotel themselves (often with a roommate). Sometimes they only pay you exactly what you shell out and you have to give them receipts and return any extra money. My company is kind of awesome, though, because they give you a flat amount and you can do with it whatever you please, meaning if you can find cheap enough lodging, or camp, or whatever, you can save a LOT of money. This was how I funded a lot of my fancy computer-getting and camera buying in the past. It was like a second income, and now that I haven't had it in nearly two years (the project I re-injured myself on was local, so we didn't get per diem), I'm sort of missing it because there's all kinds of things I'd like to buy, and now I can't afford them without saving up for quite some time.
In particular, I really want an iPad. They're just kind of awesome and pretty and shiny. When I thought about it this morning, I realized that if I was to go in the field and save just HALF of the per diem I'd get, I would be enough to buy an iPad. Isn't that ridiculous? If I was able to go out for just one 10-day session, I could buy an iPad! And probably some accessories, too.
However, when I was in the field, and getting all this extra cash to buy things, I was fucking miserable. I dreaded going to work each and every day. I hated being hot, sweaty and dirty every day (or cold, stiff and miserable, depending on the time of year). In the end I've realized that the old saying is true: money does not buy happiness. I'm so much happier now that I get to be in town all the time, and go home to my cats and my own bed every evening.
But I still want an iPad.