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Post by kutkota on Apr 16, 2013 13:08:01 GMT -7
I am sure most don't follow my life story but in a nut shell here goes.
I am 29 married 2 young kids 5,3 and I am within the last year of my undergrad B.S. in Biology. I started with the intentions of medical school which would push my schooling for an additional 8-10 years from this year. Not to include internships at everything else associated with it.
I have also been looking into molecular biology and getting into disease research, maybe virology. Which I love as well. which would probably need a masters degree plus but not immediatly which would ease the stress and allow for breathing room with "life".
I am not looking for advice as far as what path but how much "time" we have. My family and I are prepared, but we can't do much more than where we are at for any number of reasons. Mostly due to economy, and my time constraints. Moving is in all likelyhood a probability due to jobs or school locations for which ever path my family decide on so that is another issue that will factor in.
I know it is not a true prepping issue but it is going to have a huge impact on my families future. Any thoughts are welcomed.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 13:59:15 GMT -7
Yes this is about prepping. It's prepping for your families future.
IMO...There is no one who knows how much time we actually have. It is all a big guessing game. My suggestion is decide which path you want to follow WITHOUT thinking about how much time is left. Next figure out where you will relocate to and how that area would best benefit your family should SHTF. Then go along with life as planned.
We should prepare for the worst and be ready, but we should NOT let it dictate everything in our lives. We only have so much time, and we should enjoy as much of it as we can, while we can. You need to consider what is best for YOU because that will essentially affect your entire family.
If we can't plan a future for our families and live life to its fullest while preparing for emergency situations, then we don't have a future worth looking forward to. Ultimately, this is something you need to think long and hard about, talk to your spouse, and make your decision final.
Good luck...I hope I made some sense!
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Post by thywar on Apr 16, 2013 14:03:57 GMT -7
Well I am the last person to ever give advice about just about anything.. I 'never worry about 'time' because time is going to happen with me or without me'. It is going to be what it is and I take the approach that I should do all I can do within my constraints and limitations and then live my day just like this is the best day I've ever lived. I expect tomorrow will be even better. I know what's coming eventually but all I can take care of is me.. all you can take care of is your family and my 'advice' is to do exactly what you want to do with one eye in the future and one eye in the present. Sounds like you have a great family and I know from reading your posts you're working hard at getting ahead. Stay focused on your dreams and your family life and then do what you need to do. I'll sit here and cheer you on.
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Post by cowgirlup on Apr 16, 2013 14:14:25 GMT -7
You can't live your whole life waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's tiring. That being said with all the evidence the economy can't keep going on like this. I wish I had saved the best article I ever read about this. It basically said everything has to go to crap by 2015/2016, no way out of it no matter what they try.
If I find it I'll post it. Hope that helps some. I'm sure someone will have more detailed thoughts on this.
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Post by fallkniven on Apr 16, 2013 14:51:19 GMT -7
I'm only a few years behind you myself Kuktoka and if it was me I'd write the pros and cons down, speak to your wife and see what you think is best for yourself and your family.
We're still young, but it would be a shame to miss an opportunity and I think it's important that you choose the right path to go down considering working takes up most of our lives... While work is often times a chore, I know personally I'd prefer to do something I really enjoy if possible or something that's at least somewhat interesting and tolerable, because it's going to be another 30-40 years of your life.
If you really did want to go down the medical route then that's a huge commitment. I'd imagine the costs for that in the US are extremely high and from what I've gathered from a friend of mine there whose daughter is finishing up college soon, the government/loan companies expect payments as soon as you finish, so that's an added pressure, especially when you'll no doubt have the amount of debt that goes with studying for so long.
I would imagine that you could follow on your undergraduate and do a masters and then get a nice lab job doing something along the virology lines. I'm not sure about the US, but most masters here are 1 year courses, 2 years at the most. A year extra to add that extra degree to your resumé is probably going to go a long way as well and I'd imagine would pay off in the long run when you're haggling for salary.
Just make sure you think long and hard so you don't regret your decision.
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Post by Cwi555 on Apr 16, 2013 16:40:17 GMT -7
No one can say how much time is left with 100% accuracy. There are only lesser and greater probabilities. At this time, the probability is high for a black swan event that can disrupt the norm internationally, but the nature of chaos is to avoid absolutes. The best thing you can do is go forward with your life with eyes wide open. That is really all anyone can do.
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Post by kutkota on Apr 16, 2013 17:59:40 GMT -7
Thanks for the comments. Just trying to put all the ducks in a row, and wanted to hear some opinions.
Edit: what ba grammar batman!
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Post by olebama on Apr 16, 2013 19:43:53 GMT -7
You could look into some research organizations. Midwest Research Institute, Battelle, Southwest Research Institute, Southern Research Institute. Most of them have BSL2 and BSL3 labs. I don't know if any of them are hiring right now. I think that most of them have good educational benefits, so you could continue your education in a university in the same city while working.
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Post by Cwi555 on Apr 17, 2013 2:28:58 GMT -7
If you can handle living in San Antonio Tx I'll vouch for SWRI. www.swri.org/If your grades are high enough where you at, you may also get the further education paid for by them as well. I can't speak for your end of it, but for the materials science branch, they are second to none with as modern of facilities as can be had in this world.
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Post by thywar on Apr 17, 2013 4:38:50 GMT -7
'If you can handle living in San Antonio Tx I'll vouch for SWRI.' - CWI
See other thread about learning a new language..SPANISH. San Antonio is rapidly becoming democratic. One of the Castro twins was just elected Mayor and his brother was just elected to the US House. Both democrats. Their Mother is a democratic activist. SA, Austin, Dallas and Houston are turning more liberal.
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Post by kutkota on Apr 17, 2013 8:07:06 GMT -7
I love San Antonio, spent 6 glorious months at Fort sam for all my medic classes. Thanks for the link. I will look at them as well.
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Post by kutkota on Apr 17, 2013 8:12:43 GMT -7
Just checked it out CWI, looks like they have their fingers in a lot of very cool techy type stuff.
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Post by BORNTHATWAY on Apr 17, 2013 12:33:32 GMT -7
Well all I can add is that time is going to march on regardless of what happens. If we had a crystal ball we would all be rich and not worried about what is best for prepping as we could afford whatever we needed or would know that we do not need to do a lot of prep because nothing will happen in our life time.
So that being said choose the road you would take regardless as 10 yrs will pass either way. The saying is choose the path you know in your heart that you love as you will not work a day in your life if you are doing the thing you love.
Good luck with your choice and yes you do need to discuss it with your spouse but you do have to do for a living what is going to make you happy or you and your spouse will not be happy together because if you are not happy in what you do it will reflect in other facets of your life.
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Post by mrmike on Apr 17, 2013 13:31:15 GMT -7
Every one here has said what I think and how I live as well. Prepping is secondary to "life". Live your live to its fullest, work hard, study hard and play hard. Yes, prepping is important but it cant consume you. Live, smile, love, laugh and dream. I have kiddos, work full time, wife works and we don't have a ton of time but we prep when we can.
Between work, school, girl scouts, cooking, cleaning, yard work and my various other things like EMT, fire fighter, ACO and so on it leaves little time for other things, but the prepping gets done, a little at a time. It becomes almost seemless. Buy some thing extra here and there, squirrel some things away a little at a time, it all adds up in the end. Family always comes first, which means taking the time to cuddle and read a book with the kiddos. A quiet night out with the lady. In a way these things are prepping too, as your building a strong bond with your home life. That's all prepping is any way isn't it? Being able to pull through the tuff spots, a night with out power, a winter storm, the loss of a job or SHTF.... its all related.
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