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Back In The USSA! You Don't Know How Lucky You Are

Welp, our time in the Sandbox is coming to an end. As of Nov 17, I was "retired" at age 57 from the company I've been working for the last 14 years. This is a big deal here, because 1) I'm not ready to retire, and 2) we are losing a) the relatively nice home we moved into in April, and b) our community in which we are so heavily involved in Theater, baseball, quilting, chorale, church choir, my wife's service sorority, her job as a librarian at the nearby elementary school (today is her last day), the various bands and gigs I played in, access to a decent woodworking shop, building theater sets and props, and just generally being known and respected around our little suburbia in the desert. We are moving back to Houston / Katy in January. My wife will be looking for a house, while I pack up here. Financially, at least long term, we are flush. However, I need to find a real, or at least consulting, job for cash flow and insurance purposes, as well as to fully fund my kids' educations. I know many of you have been through this, so I value your comments, ideas, and any possible contacts you might have. The oil industry is still in a downturn, so those are few and far between. I am already ginning up various versions of resume / CV, have begun re-networking via Facebook, LinkedIn and e-mail, with a few promising leads. This is harder to do, but not impossible, from overseas. Prayers are needed. We know we are in God's hands, and that every time He has worked a painful-to-go-through change, it has always come out better on the other side. PM me here, and then we can move the conversation over to LinkedIn and Messenger, or via my personal e-mail, oilyfool@yahoo.com

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Comment by Paul Craig on December 7, 2016 at 8:18am: Hang in there Oily, going through the desert stinks, but He'll get you through to the other side.

Comment by RTZGUITARS on December 6, 2016 at 7:42pm: Time has a way off moving on and sometimes so must we. Sometimes life gives us a wall to climb but something tells me when you and your family get on the other side it will be a better place. Good Luck Brother

Comment by 3 String Blues on December 6, 2016 at 7:21am: Then I guess it will be great, as long as your enjoying whatever comes next , or at least learning something new about yourself or your life...then you'll be in for some of that long term gain!

Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on December 5, 2016 at 11:43pm: Beetlejuice,

It's not that simple. There is ZERO possibility of finding another job within the Company, per CEO decree. I could stay in the ME, maybe, but finding a job doing what I do, right now, is happening in the midst of another great downturn in my industry, worldwide. Yes, people hire during those. But ferreting out the jobs that fit, takes longer. Especially when you are trying to simultaneosly sell two cars, prep for Christmas, deal with grieving friends and colleagues, and pack an entire household of goods and memories to move back overseas. All while 500 of my coworkers are trying to do the same thing.

This job ending is indeed the next step for my next phase in life. My career has been literally that: a series of increasingly-better pings and pings, no matter what plans I formulated or had in store. Each time, there was short-term pain, for long term gain.

God will make his plan known in time. This ain't my first rodeo. He always comes through in the end. If he wants me to stay here, it will happen. In some unexpected, convoluted fashion.

Comment by 3 String Blues on December 5, 2016 at 5:35pm: Why didn't you try to stay and "go for broke" and see if something came up over there?

your 57 you need to start living a little diffenet than if your 27...that job ending could have been the setup for next phase in life to unfold....and you might be leaving , just as God is setting you up for something you could have never foresaw! ......he might be staring down at you wondering where are you going????...you can never predict just want might unfold,

....if you had some form of savings why not stick around to see for a year or so,, you seemed to like it over there, possible he brought you there for a reason???

a path might have opened up right in front of you! ...just as you hop off of it???

either way I hope something wonderful happened, at least you know something's about to happen!

Comment by Marcelo Vid on December 1, 2016 at 1:01pm: It's sad, but better times will come!

Comment by Diglydog on December 1, 2016 at 4:04am: Sorry to hear that news, Oily. I went through a fairly major career change a few years ago and it is quite unsettling. A couple of points that I'd offer are:

-   Don't underestimate your own skills or their value.

-   Think about transferreble skills - there's a lot of things to do out there and you may find a new niche in a surprising place.

-   Do not be afraid. Just as my career change was approaching, the Archbishop of York said that during a 'pause for thought' on the radio. I'm not a religious person but it was a powerful and important message.

Good luck and keep us posted on how it's going.

Comment by the anonymous pick on November 29, 2016 at 6:51pm: Hey Oily , i have all the faith in the world for ya , if you can set up shop in a sand dune and accomplish all that you have done there , i'm sure you can / will do it anywhere . But indeed , relocation is a bitch and takes alot out of ya , so you being a guy that has helped so many on this site and even spear headed donations / funding for folks in need on here , i hope someone pops up to make your road a little easier . you are deserving of it . i wish you all the best .

and hey . don't discount Canada , the Canadian oils sands are making leaps and bounds in the industry . a lil different that what you are doing ,, and there's sand there too if ya miss it ;-)