I [32m] am a CNC machinist for a government contractor. 15 months ago I moved 1700 miles with the idea of “IM GETTING INTO THE MAJOR LEAGUES OF MACHINING”, and instead was welcomed with the most toxic work environment I’ve come across since being a teenager working at a fucking grocery store. While the actually work has been the only reason I’ve stayed (work that gets done with the bare minimum of technology, machining tools, and measurement tools), the past few months I’ve been on such a steady steady decline in mental health.
I need out, badly, but in this area there isn’t much game in town and most options are worse in every single way. While my raise was 3.5%, I’m lucky I can actually live on that, while I cling to absolutely loving what I do. But seriously, for someone who was JUST able to become independent and move my life so far away, how could I possibly maintain the life I have now, with no promise of anything to come of it? (Ya know, the life of food, a dog, a car, a phone, internet and an apartment that isn’t a total shit hole)
Risk/reward, right?