There’s a number of jobs out there that demand a lot out of spouses: farmers, law enforcement, politics, military, clergy . . . you’re not just marrying the person – you’re marrying their occupation too.
I’ve always thought there were two kinds of work – work you “do” and work you “are”. FAMILY Farming (that is disappearing), teaching, preaching, motherhood, writing, music & art – and some others – are usually inseparable from the person’s identity – and most of them are poorly paid, and not respected in our society. Maybe the other rewards make up for that, but people keep doing them – because they HAVE to; they just have a need to keep plugging away, though the challenges are many and the going is often hard. A little recognition sure would go a long way for people like “us”!
I used to work till late at night and on weekends because I was such a blabbermouth in writing up all my notes (who, me? Who’da thunk?). A coworker asked what my husband thought about my working all the time, and I said, “He thinks ‘damn.’” He put up with me, though.Once one of my daughters said, “You like your clients better than me.” I said, “But I spend more time with you than with any of my other clients!” (Oops!) She survived somehow. I had a great family in that respect.
When I was a kid I wished I lived on a farm — one of the old-fashioned type where you have a variety of farm animals and grow your own food and are mostly self-sufficient. But in school I was told that no one can farm like that any more and you had to have this big industrial complex. Yecch! Now I’ve learned it’s just the opposite — that the farmers who work the big farms can’t make ends meet without government subsidies paid for with your tax dollar, while the small local farms can get by on their own without government (and taxpayer) assistance. I don’t know if that was the case back when I was a kid, but it’s the case now. Just watch movies like King Corn and you see the problem.
Not too many real family run farms left anymore. Farming has become another business where it’s almost impossible to compete as a small, family run operation.And most of the farm subsidies go to the big operators, not the small to mid-size farms:http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/281147/fig2_2gp_2_.jpg
hsawlrae over 12 years ago
O U C H !!!
BluePumpkin over 12 years ago
There’s a number of jobs out there that demand a lot out of spouses: farmers, law enforcement, politics, military, clergy . . . you’re not just marrying the person – you’re marrying their occupation too.
luckylouie over 12 years ago
I worked shiftwork in power plants for 35 years. When I retired, I got my wife a gold watch — she worked that shiftwork just as much as I did.
woodwork over 12 years ago
the profit margin is greater, risks smaller in all those jobsnot to mention the investment reqired
prrdh over 12 years ago
There’s something charismatic about someone with a calling, like Dan…or my wife (whose calling isn’t farming, but still…)
lightenup Premium Member over 12 years ago
I think that was sweet! Sometimes you love the job, sometimes you just love the person doing the job. It’s all good.
sjsczurek over 12 years ago
As long as you’re happy, that’s what counts.
Me – I wish I could live in a place like I used to know. Open fields and woods, a nearby pond (but one that was NOT “Private Property”), wildlife.
siskando2 over 12 years ago
I’ve always thought there were two kinds of work – work you “do” and work you “are”. FAMILY Farming (that is disappearing), teaching, preaching, motherhood, writing, music & art – and some others – are usually inseparable from the person’s identity – and most of them are poorly paid, and not respected in our society. Maybe the other rewards make up for that, but people keep doing them – because they HAVE to; they just have a need to keep plugging away, though the challenges are many and the going is often hard. A little recognition sure would go a long way for people like “us”!
Gokie5 over 12 years ago
I used to work till late at night and on weekends because I was such a blabbermouth in writing up all my notes (who, me? Who’da thunk?). A coworker asked what my husband thought about my working all the time, and I said, “He thinks ‘damn.’” He put up with me, though.Once one of my daughters said, “You like your clients better than me.” I said, “But I spend more time with you than with any of my other clients!” (Oops!) She survived somehow. I had a great family in that respect.
The Life I Draw Upon over 12 years ago
I once told my father that anyone that could make a living at farming could go elsewhere and be rich.
tuslog64 over 12 years ago
How to farm for twenty years and have a small fortune:First, start with a large fortune—-
tuslog64 over 12 years ago
A farmer once won the lottery, and asked what his plans were.He said he’d just keep on farming until it was gone!
ewalnut over 12 years ago
When I was a kid I wished I lived on a farm — one of the old-fashioned type where you have a variety of farm animals and grow your own food and are mostly self-sufficient. But in school I was told that no one can farm like that any more and you had to have this big industrial complex. Yecch! Now I’ve learned it’s just the opposite — that the farmers who work the big farms can’t make ends meet without government subsidies paid for with your tax dollar, while the small local farms can get by on their own without government (and taxpayer) assistance. I don’t know if that was the case back when I was a kid, but it’s the case now. Just watch movies like King Corn and you see the problem.
lily245pj over 12 years ago
Exactly what my Granddaughter whould say.
Uncle Joe over 12 years ago
Not too many real family run farms left anymore. Farming has become another business where it’s almost impossible to compete as a small, family run operation.And most of the farm subsidies go to the big operators, not the small to mid-size farms:http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/281147/fig2_2gp_2_.jpg