Big decision

wallmanwill · Post by **wallmanwill** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:22 pm

Hello people, I have somewhat of a big decision to make and I want some advise. I really want this year to be the first year that I go to burning man. However, I work two jobs and I know for a fact if I go I will be fired from one of them. Now the job I will lose is a great cake job but this is for burning man. Please tell me what would you do?
Thanks william

StandingLenticular · Post by **StandingLenticular** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:42 pm

Is there no way to have your cake and eat it to? It's still months in advance. Can't work anything out with your boss? Work some extra hours ahead of time?

wallmanwill · Post by **wallmanwill** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:44 pm

nope my boss is a hard ass no days off except for the normal two days.

MikeGyver · Post by **MikeGyver** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:44 pm

It depends on the Job market in the area and how much you need that job, if you can come back and find a job in a week then go for it, but if you quit and will be unable to pay bills then its not really worth it. I mean I'm sure its worth it, but its not like this will be the last year.

Post by **Elderberry** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:32 pm

Hey there, welcome to eplaya.

Only you can make that decision. None of us have enough information about you, your life, your jobs, your finances, your skills, your ability to find new employment, your budget, your savings and investments, your age, etc. to make any intelligent guesses as to whether you should quit your job.

Post by **Savannah** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:05 pm

Only you can make that decision. None of us have enough information about you, your life, your jobs, your finances, your skills, your ability to find new employment, your budget, your savings and investments, your age, etc. to make any intelligent guesses as to whether you should quit your job.

Agreed. Too many unknowns.

I once delayed interviewing (and then starting) a job that unexpectedly turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. I shiver to think I could have missed 4 fun, strange, happy years of employment 'cause of my second burn--which was a really good burn (though not my best Burn, even). It wouldn't have been worth losing the job. I didn't know it at the time; the job was new. And if I didn't know it, and just got lucky, people as far outside your life as we are can't possibly give you the right advice.

But I can understand the urge to share your dilemma in the hopes that the answer might become more clear by the act of articulating it, or just to start making likeminded acquaintances. If you don't get to go until 2012, you will have a fantastic amount of lead time to learn and network.

Good luck with your decision . . .

Rilopie · Post by **Rilopie** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:13 pm

Do you need to go for the whole week? Maybe your boss would be willing to work with you if you were to fly out on Wednesday or something.

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:25 pm

What's the rush? I worked a career and raised a family. When the time came I went to Burning Man. I could have given up my career, but took the path I took and have never regretted it. When the time came, I went to Burning Man. Life's all about choices, my friend. Make the one that works best for you.

Burning Man is great, but there are far more important things in life. That said, sometimes simply making the commitment to go has things fall into place...maybe you can go and keep both jobs, or lose the one and find another...better one!

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 6:48 am

spend more time here reading and interacting with other burners...2 posts...

start being a burner

dress like one...smell like one...all the time..at work...

your boss will tell you to go

or if not pretend you are there, play loud music, get dusty, use a portapotty used by 40,000 others..same 2 outfits for a week/one day/one night..eat food that may have been kept cold enough...

when it's time you will be in the desert

brighteststar · Post by **brighteststar** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 7:40 am

you can have your cake and eat it too. you cant eat your cake and have it to.the official saying is backwards

dapperdan

department of correct use of cliches

knowmad · Post by **knowmad** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:49 am

ah but eager he is! Maybe burner he'll never be. How will he see the burn without his eyes?

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:01 am

Hey...what about the regional events! Although definitely not the playa, they are more accessible logistics-wise, they have their place, and are loads of fun besides! Eventually one can graduate to BRC.

Packoderm · Post by **Packoderm** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:12 am

Sometimes things happen to businesses and equipment run by hard-ass bosses. Sometimes these things that happen necessitate a cessation in normal business operations. I'm not advocating anything mind you.

Trishntek · Post by **Trishntek** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:19 am

EspressoDude wrote:spend more time here reading and interacting with other burners...2 posts...

start being a burner

dress like one...smell like one...all the time..at work...

your boss will tell you to go

or if not pretend you are there, play loud music, get dusty, use a portapotty used by 40,000 others..same 2 outfits for a week/one day/one night..eat food that may have been kept cold enough...

when it's time you will be in the desert

I love it!

Foxfur · Post by **Foxfur** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 11:23 am

The more you read in these forums, the more you'll want to go.
You should seriously consider how much better your life list will be with either the burn or the job.
If it was me, I'd quit your job. Period.
There are so many wonderful bosses out there. Life is too short to suffer dick bosses or bosses dicks.
I agree with Packy. 'Burning Management' has a nice ring to it...

Jesus will kill twenty kittens for each day you remain at that job.
Do it for the kittens. Meow.

Ff

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 5:22 pm

How important is working in the local cake world to you? If that's where you want to spend your life (or at least the next few years) then stay. You don't want to get a reputation as a flake--that could be hard to shake.

And agitate like hell for vacation benefits for all americans. I know, even if you had two weeks it might not be august/september, but this nonsense that you have to be there every week indefinitely is weird or psycho or something. Wrong.

Post by **Elderberry** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 7:31 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:How important is working in the local cake world to you?

I was wondering where you came up with what his job was. Hmmm...I though he meant it as he had this real easy job, like it's "a piece of cake", not that he worked making cakes or something. LOL

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:00 pm

I suppose so. If it's that trivial than maybe he should go.