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Deanne
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17 Jun 2020, 3:35 pm

I have the perfect job, but it's not perfect for me.

I've been at the same high-tech company for over 20 years. It pays well and I'm just a few years short of retirement. My manager is great. I'm comfortable talking to him, and when I told him I suck at communication, he gave me a workable alternative and told me not to worry about it. I work from home most of the time, even before the pandemic. How much better could it get!?

But I hate computer technology. I've never liked it. It bores me. I've tolerated it and it's getting harder and harder to tolerate. I'm good at what I do, outside of the communication part, but I have a hard time focusing. I last about 10 minutes in most meetings before my mind wanders off. I'm supposedly watching a usability test right now.

I want to find a different job that doesn't involve computers. I don't think it would be a wise move right now though. I'm a kidney transplant recipient and medication is expensive. Most of it is covered by insurance provided by my current job. Without insurance and a job that pays well, I'd be screwed.

Just venting. I don't expect any answers.



starkid
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17 Jun 2020, 5:09 pm

If you become a very low-income person (by quitting your job), you would probably qualify for state health insurance. I have it and I don't pay a dime for prescription medication. You could look into it and try to find out how much you'd have to pay (if anything).

Perhaps it's possible you could retain some (not all) of your job-related benefits even if you retire early?

Have you thought about looking for similar but less boring jobs? You could be a consultant for your line of work, advising people about the kind of work you do instead of doing it yourself. You could consider a management role.



kraftiekortie
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17 Jun 2020, 5:27 pm

I agree with you, Deanna. This is not a good time to change jobs.



Steve1963
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18 Jun 2020, 5:43 am

You could very well be telling my story, except I work from home full time, even before covid. As much as I'd like to find a new career, my financial obligations require that I stay in my current role, and I suspect that applies to you as well.



Deanne
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23 Jun 2020, 12:15 pm

I think you're right, Steve 1963, down to the fact that your name includes the year of my birthday. How weird is that!

I think part of my issue comes from a combination of ASD+ADHD as they relate to special interests and executive functioning (or the lack of it). I want to spend *all* my time on my special interest (plants), and impulsivity makes me keep thinking of other projects I really want to do. I get frustrated because I can't do it all. I have a hard time keeping my plants watered, I'm building a paludarium, prepping windows for a greenhouse build, and I have a dozen other "want to's" lined up.

In the meantime, housework is neglected. I'll stop working on my projects when it gets too bad to make the house spotless again, and then start the whole pattern all over again.



Redd_Kross
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23 Jun 2020, 12:34 pm

Deanne wrote:
I think part of my issue comes from a combination of ASD+ADHD as they relate to special interests and executive functioning (or the lack of it).


This is the key thing. If you change jobs you will struggle to concentrate in the new one as well, and it could be a job that's much worse in terms of pay and conditions.

I would invest as much time and effort as you can spare into investigating ADHD coping strategies before you consider changing jobs. It sounds like your job is a very good one, and learning something different could be very hard with ADHD too.

Also worth noting that the vast majority of jobs simply pay the bills. They're not automatically fun or interesting. The ones that ARE fun and interesting are generally exceedingly poorly paid because the employers know they can get away with paying peanuts.



Steve1963
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23 Jun 2020, 12:38 pm

I'll admit to being a bit ignorant on the ADHD front, but are there not medications to help with that? I'm bipolar and before I found the proper balance of meds, I was also all over the place. Not to say that I'm cured, not by a long stretch, but I do find that I'm able to focus more than I could in the past.



jimmy m
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23 Jun 2020, 1:22 pm

Deanne wrote:
I have the perfect job, but it's not perfect for me.

I've been at the same high-tech company for over 20 years. It pays well and I'm just a few years short of retirement. My manager is great. I'm comfortable talking to him, and when I told him I suck at communication, he gave me a workable alternative and told me not to worry about it. I work from home most of the time, even before the pandemic. How much better could it get!?

But I hate computer technology. I've never liked it. It bores me. I've tolerated it and it's getting harder and harder to tolerate. I'm good at what I do, outside of the communication part, but I have a hard time focusing. I last about 10 minutes in most meetings before my mind wanders off. I'm supposedly watching a usability test right now.

I want to find a different job that doesn't involve computers. I don't think it would be a wise move right now though. I'm a kidney transplant recipient and medication is expensive. Most of it is covered by insurance provided by my current job. Without insurance and a job that pays well, I'd be screwed.


I agree with your logic. Just hang in there a few more years until retirement. I have been retired for over 12 years. Seems it was just like yesterday when I went to my retirement party. I really enjoy my retirement.


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Deanne
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24 Jun 2020, 11:05 am

I'm not planning to go anywhere. I'm too near the end to screw things up. I was mostly just venting. We all have things we don't want to do. This is just mine.



Steve1963
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24 Jun 2020, 12:25 pm

Vent away. I do it on an almost daily basis. My poor wife. :(



kraftiekortie
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24 Jun 2020, 12:28 pm

Will you be getting a pension when you retire, Deanne?

My wife has a sister named Diane....but it’s pronounced “Dee-Ann.”



Deanne
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01 Jul 2020, 12:28 pm

I have a 401K and buy corporate stock at a reduced rate. The stock pays dividends that reinvest.

I gave myself financial goals for retirement, like having x in savings, x in my 401K, and 0$ in outstanding debt. It keeps me motivated. I know I need to talk to a financial advisor. I've been procrastinating about it.

Because of the virus, I'm not going to visit my parents this year. That always takes all my vacation time. This year, I'll be able to take the time for myself and I'm taking next week off. Maybe the break will calm me down a bit. I'll be able to catch up on some of the unfinished things that cause me so much frustration.