[Cobra_Strike]

I would like to give new people reassurance...however, after a long bit of personal reflection I ended up dropping out. School can be fun, but too often the people you will meet are transparent, ignorent. Good luck getting through depression, as bad as it seems to start it will get better in time.

[madmax]

Like you, I’ve just stumbled on this whole PO thing…
and like you, the paradigm shift was (is) hard to swallow (no pun intended).
BUT…
Remember…

you only live once.

People seem to forget. Try as hard as you can to find the good in the bad. It’s there. Dude, you got a girl…you’ve got an exciting adventure ahead with the move & all…who knows what the future will bring. And best of all, you’ve got choices!
Should I go to college?
Shold I not?
Should I work here?
Or there?
Dude! You don’t know how lucky you are to have a fu***ing choice at ALL. We’re still lliving in the Golden era (although it looks to be coming to an end). So enjoy it! Ride the wave! But…you gotta be smart at the same time! Notice I said smart! Not scared or paranoid…let the flock be frightened. After all…it’s good to be alive.

[rexxz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Waterthrush', 'R')e: staying flexible - that is the key right now. You have some real assets: 1) a girlfriend who is on your wavelength; 2) no debt; 3) the possibility of some land in Illinois; and 4) awareness.

If I were you .... I'd move to Houston and enroll as you originally planned and, if you are sure about your girlfriend, marry sooner rather than later to start enjoying the benefits of marriage. If you are looking for any kind of low-paying job, take one in horticultural work or assisting some home repair guy.

Make some deal with the father in law about the land in Illinois, not financial, but some sort of agreement that you will shape it during the summers in some way. How depends on whether there is any housing on it. If there is housing, you will work to repair and clean it for possible use as a retreat. If it is already partly agricultural, you will see if there is some kind of low-maintenance crop that could be sown on the agricultural part (nuts?). If it is "wild" right now, certainly leave it that way, but research easement agreements or maybe research agreements (e.g. the American Chestnut Foundation is slowly developing chestnut research plots). If you are learning this kind of stuff right now, just do it in exchange for getting to play around there, but once you are making a real contribution, you would probably want to draw up something more official with him that recognizes your sweat equity.

OK, I know it's easier to give advice to others than oneself. But it appears to me that you have more assets than many and should not despair.

[Fergus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rexxz', '
')Also, I have concern about finding work. I mean not now, but in the future when this stuff happens. I assume there will bas massive loss of jobs, what does one do when they are unemployed and can't find work?

[oowolf]

avoid cities, come to Montana and work on a ranch, or a dude ranch. learn how to survive in nature.

Outfits like this:
http://www.springcreeklodge.com/
will hire people with little experience. of course the pay is low but you're in the woods. Learn to hunt, fish, enjoy life. got out while you can.

[oowolf]

avoid cities, come to Montana and work on a ranch, or a dude ranch. learn how to survive in nature.

Outfits like this:
http://www.springcreeklodge.com/
will hire people with little experience. of course the pay is low but you're in the woods. Learn to hunt, fish, enjoy life. get out while you can.