So I have decided to fall in love with the Coast Guard again. Why? Because I'm having a mid-life crisis, but I'm doing it early, that way at least it's done. So I went to the website to look for civilian jobs, having the bright idea to just start there and see if it's an option.
As it turns out, it's not. Amazing. The Coast Guard in the midwest is all about the Great Lakes and Waterways. I live on the freaking Mississippi (my town is perched there, that is), and there's rivers all over the place up here! And this is a huge, thriving metro area! I figured they must at least have a base in Duluth...nope.
Minnesota isn't even one of the options on the job search page.
That makes me so sad; the Coast Guard will never have the opportunity to view my stellar and promising resume, and then promptly send me a rejection letter with the typical "we're going with another candidate who has more specific experience for this position, so thanks but no thanks" letter. I've decided to collect letters of that type, but I do have a certain standard; the position I apply for does actually have to be something I could legitimately do, and it must be an employer that does not require me to move to someplace, like, say, Juneau, Alaska. (Although it's tempting. They have great skiing up there. MMMMmmmmmm, Valdez....)
Anyway, there goes that idea.
I'm off today and tomorrow and trying to consider employers maybe I hadn't before. Already I've scratched the Coast Guard off my list. * sigh *
14 comments:
Mid-life crisis at age 33--I don't think so--your still a baby! (Wait till you hit 50!)
Yeah, young chickie! What Tara said-except wait until you're 40!
Anyway, you could always become a Pirate in the South China Sea. You could start your own crew-aargh and avast.
Tara and Cathy ~ Read what I said again...age has nothing to do with it. I said I'm having my mid-life crisis EARLY!
Besides, I don't want to be a pirate. I want to be one of the good guys.
Adoro, why not move? Especially if the jobs that appeal to you are not in your area?
paramedicgirl ~ Moving isn't exactly an option right now and I don't want to live in any of the areas that happen to be USCG cities.
Such is life - not where I'm called to be. The USCG that is, not life. :-)
adoro:
You can't have a mid-life crisis early--it's not allowed--sorry--you have to wait until mid-life. That would be fifty! LOL!
Tara ~ Well, that's if you're basing it on the idea I might live to be 100. Now, what if I get skin cancer and die in 2 years? That would drastically change the definition of "mid-life" for me, thus I would actually be LATE in having this crisis.
:-)
If I could actually find a new job, though, one that actually uses my God-given gifts, well, there would be no current crisis and this whole thing could be delayed to the proper time.
:-)
Au contraire, Adoro!
Duluth has had a Coast Guard station for many years. When I was growing up, the Cutter Woodrush was based there year round for buoy tending, light ice-breaking and life saving duties.
Depending upon the the thickness of ice, an icebreaker might come in each spring. It is based in Sault Ste Marie because the westerly winds push the ice towards the Soo locks there.
Here's a link:
http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/portDirectory.do?tabId=1&cotpId=24
Here's a link to a photo of the Cutter Alder:
http://www.duluthshippingnews.com/pictures580/alder270116-1-005.jpg
The Alder had engine problems this year, so the Biscayne Bay came in for ice breaking duties.
http://www.duluthshippingnews.com/images2007/biscaynebay270314-1-028.jpg
If you like "boats", the Duluth Shipping News sites has fabulous photographs of activities in the Duluth-Superior Harbor, going back many years.
www.duluthshippingnews.com
Two or three Coastguardsmen died in 1967 attempting to save some young boys who were playing on the Duluth entrance piers. It was a bit of a scandal that they were called out when the boys were certainly already dead.
Yes, Ray, they have a station. But they do not employ civilians out of that station, according to their official civillian website.
As I'm not going to run off and enlist in the Coast Guard, they remain off my list.
I don't really want to live in Duluth, anyway. Again, moving is not an option for me.
ATD,
I'm not really that cool. My sister is the one who got all the attention in the USCG. She's a real witch for stealing my thunder.
;)
http://tinyurl.com/2g8bcp
"Moments in USCG History"
2006:
First woman warrant boatswain to command a Coast Guard station: CWO3 Mary Ward commanded Station Port Canaveral until her retirement on 16 June 2006.
I think that's very cool. So have you seen The Guardian yet?
:-)
Living in the midewest, we have lots of the other branches of the military, but the USCG is just not really mentioned or recruited, etc...not in my area, anyway. There are recruiters here - I actually had to call one as part of one of my investigations, to verify some information presented to us, and found the recruiter to be very helpful in translating the form that was sent to me. But I learned long ago to distrust recuriters - they seem nice but they have an agenda, and I believe USCG is not immune to that! LOL!
I do sort of wish I had acted on my interest long ago...how long were you involved, do you still have friends there, and are you glad you did it? What made you pursue that, and, not, say...the Navy or some other area?
adoro:
Ok, your right, because if you stay in a job you hate--it WILL shorten your life considerably, but, if you could actually find your new job--using your God-given talents--you WILL live to 100+.
Look at nuns--satistically, they live to ripe old ages. Says alot for doing God's work (why is it not the same for priests?).
Hi!
My daughter lives in valdez right now (it's beautiful) and her boyfriend is from the Minneapolis-St.Paul area, small world! I enjoy your blog! bridgit
Tara ~ If I stay in this job, I will certainly die next year. Stress alone. Stress is good if it's interesting stress. This stuff is not for anyone.
Anon ~ Thanks for the comment! I actually did some research on Alaska today, just out of curiosity. Juneau actually has a better climate than MN...although I didn't loo int Valdez. I'll just bet it's gorgeous!
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