Job opportunity - advice sought - DPChallenge Forums

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

05/12/2006 11:03:45 PM · #1

Nope, not a photography job (I'd starve!) but one which would offer probably some really good chances to take pictures.

I may have the opportunity to go to either Kastrel City, Germany, or some little know place called Croughton (I think), UK. I don't know what the job in the UK entails, but I figure I can handle the one in Germany. (Both are assignments with the US Air Force.)

Looking for any advice anyone may have on either location - good, bad, indifferent.

Other considerations (for which I'll take opinions if you're so inclined) - my dad thinks it would be a nifty opportunity. My mom isn't so keen on the idea and she'd prefer I move closer to her, ie California, which would be fine by me but it's kinda expensive and I'd kinda have to find a job. Parents are divorced and live considerable distance from each other and me, and neither are spring chickens.

As for "job progression" - it wouldn't be in either case. I've celebrated "passover" more than once (ie not been picked up for promotion). It would just be another assignment, but in both cases would be very different from assignments I've had recently.

Big plus - it would put off the "what should I be when I grow up" question for a few more years. :-)

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

05/12/2006 11:17:42 PM · #2

I'd be delighted to have the opportunity to be stationed in Europe, if I were you. I spent 4 years there myself. And I say this even though it puts you further yet from me :-(

R.

Panasonic LUMIX-DMC ZS100

05/12/2006 11:25:57 PM · #3

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

I'd be delighted to have the opportunity to be stationed in Europe, if I were you. I spent 4 years there myself. And I say this even though it puts you further yet from me :-(

R.

I'd definitely have to come visit you before I left, if I do take either of those jobs. And you'd be welcome to come visit me in Europe!

wheeledd

05/12/2006 11:49:53 PM · #4

Originally posted by Melethia:

Big plus - it would put off the "what should I be when I grow up" question for a few more years. :-)

I think it is too late for me to ask what I'm going to do when I grow up. Now my question is what I'm going to do when I retire. I signed a retirement agreement this morning which says that I will quit work on January 2, 2008. After that date I will join Bear_Music in the ranks of the retired.

If you had any clear career goals that you wanted to achieve, I would say that you should concentrate on the goals an ignore the distractions of jobs in Europe. At your age you have enough time to transition to a new career and then become successful at it.

But your question makes me think that you are not ready for a major career shift. In that case, I agree with Bear Music: go to Europe. I think you will find greater opportunities in both the photographic and personal realms. You should be able to maintain your serious interest in photography without the pressure of having it be your main source of income.

At some point you will be able to retire from your current employment and switch to photography as your main occupation--but without the pressure of needing to make an income sufficient to live on. This is what I'm doing.

--DanW

Panasonic LUMIX-DMC ZS100

05/12/2006 11:58:29 PM · #5

Good advice, Dan. And I don't really have any clear career goals that I'm chasing. The one thing I've really come to appreciate in the military is that every three years or so you get to change jobs, and those jobs can be markedly different.

I'd retire after the tour in Europe if I take it. Another option is one more assignment in the states if I can get that assignment in California. Otherwise, I'll do what you did - sign the papers, and retire next spring and probably stay here in too-durn-hot-but-reasonably priced Texas, at least for awhile.

wheeledd

Panasonic LUMIX-DMC ZS100

05/13/2006 12:13:22 AM · #6

Originally posted by Melethia:

I'd retire after the tour in Europe if I take it. Another option is one more assignment in the states if I can get that assignment in California. Otherwise, I'll do what you did - sign the papers, and retire next spring and probably stay here in too-durn-hot-but-reasonably priced Texas, at least for awhile.

Deb,

My wife and I would really like to move to California--to be close to her mother in Palo Alto. But we can't afford it on the retirement income I'll be getting. So we're staying here in too-durn-cold-but-reasonably priced Ohio. I know how it is in Texas; we lived in Austin for a couple of years.

--DanW

SandyP

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 USM

05/13/2006 12:17:54 AM · #7

Wow, Deb! I think my advice would be pretty biased. I lived in Frankfurt, Germany for part of my growing up years, and I would not have traded that experience for anything in the whole world. Even as a kid, the scenery was so beautiful that it is still vividly imprinted on my mind! Some of the most wonderful memories of my whole life were of that experience. I'm hoping we can go back there someday just for a visit.

I'm with Wheeledd. . .nothing is stopping you as far as needing to buckle down and get on with a new career, so it seems like a fantastic opportunity to go to a gorgeous part of the world for a few years, then spend the rest of your life as a retired Lt. Col doing whatever suits you! Then you'll be one of the ones all us scenery-deprived Texans are jealous of because of the skies and mountains and beauty you'll be able to capture for the challenges :)

I don't know anything about living in the UK. . .but I sure think living for a few years in Germany would be awesome!!! I say "Go for it, Lt. Col. Fort" :)

wheeledd

05/13/2006 12:41:07 AM · #8

Originally posted by SandyP:

I lived in Frankfurt, Germany for part of my growing up years, and I would not have traded that experience for anything in the whole world. Even as a kid, the scenery was so beautiful that it is still vividly imprinted on my mind! Some of the most wonderful memories of my whole life were of that experience. I'm hoping we can go back there someday just for a visit.

Sandy,

My experience was different; I had an unhappy childhood in Heidelburg. But I think I was too young to appreciate the opportunity. I'd love to be able to go back for a year or two now.

I still remember arriving in Mannheim in 1949. I was distressed at seeing block after block of bomb-out shells of apartment buildings. I kept wondering what had happened to the people who lived there.

--DanW

SandyP

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 USM

05/13/2006 09:12:36 AM · #9

How sad, Dan!! That would have been a very painful time to be there. I was there in the years around 1963. By that time, for the most part, the land was all healed, and the relationships were good. I'll never forget all the beautiful castles we visited, and it was the first time an absolute LOVE for mountains stirred in my little soul :)

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

05/13/2006 09:28:31 AM · #10

I do realize I'd be trading stifling heat for cold, damp, and dreary. I think I can do that for a few years. :-)

I appreciate all the input! I'll find out more next week as to whether or not they'll actually let me have either if the jobs. I'm definitely leaning toward taking one of them, though. Hard part will be leaving my family, even though none lives within two day's drive of me now. Would just be a bit longer flight, that's all!

Spork99

OM System OM-1

05/13/2006 10:48:29 AM · #11

I grew up in California and while I love it, I've been there.

I was in Germany last fall and I have to tell you that I thought it was wonderful. I've been scheming on ways to get back, either for a visit or as an expat.

GuGi

Nikon D750

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

05/13/2006 10:59:30 AM · #12

Europe, but of course. Do it now, take the offer. It will be a very good experience and we should all live in other countries if we get the opportunity. If nothing else, it does teach you things about your home country :-) whatever country that might be, no pun intended here.
And I would take Germany, that way you might pick up a new language while you are at it and you can travel more easily around Europe, would not have to cross the Channel every time you want to travel.

Edit: spelling

Message edited by author 2006-05-13 11:00:09.

PhantomEWO

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/13/2006 12:34:24 PM · #13

Hey Deb,

I spent 3 years at RAF Mildenhall and Lackenheath. Loved every minute of it. I had a great job that allowed me to travel to Scotland and Wales at least every month. I wish I had a better camera then. More rainy and dreary in the UK although it never bothered my, easy to work around and the weather was actually great most of the time. Now on Germany, I spent a lot of time in the Bavarian Alps around Garmich and Oberammergau. Absolutely beautiful mountains, lakes and castles. Several times I actually took my own full size Chevy custom van from the UK to the Alps for several weeks at a time. So easy to take a ferry or hovercraft and drive Europe. Bouncing from country to coutry is like driving from town to town here. Soooooo my choice, expecially with your interest in scenery and photography .... Germany. Sorry Brits, Germany is just closer to so many different things. Where ever you go do NOT stay on the base all the time, get out and see the locals. So many Americans go overseas and stay on the base for everything.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

05/13/2006 01:04:32 PM · #14

Originally posted by PhantomEWO:

Hey Deb,
Where ever you go do NOT stay on the base all the time, get out and see the locals. So many Americans go overseas and stay on the base for everything.

NO worries, our melethia is more of a base-jumper than a base-sitter, if I understand her soul correctly :-) At heart, anyway. For those of you who don't know what a base-jumper is, google it :-)

R.