Escape From The Desk?

[the feebler elf]

Anybody here move on to a physical job after sitting behind a desk for years?

I've been at my current job as a structural draftsman for over seven years, and I've hated it for the past 3 or 4. It's not so much that I hate the work, it's that I hate being chained to a desk for 8 hours. I've been thinking about moving into a new career with similar pay that would require me to be on my feet and/or working with my hands all day - which I absolutely adore the idea of. I've never been content to sit around all day.

Has anybody here made a similar move in the past? If so, do you have any regrets, or have you never looked back?

[MJ5150]

I went the other way....drywall finisher to computer geek.

-Mike

[MatticusMania]

I went from Burger cook to Desk Jockey. Now Im hoping i can get out of here soon enough and into a home office.

[Radical Edward]

I went from Assistant Training Manager/Telemarketing Manager to a machine operator.
Love it this way. Felt so cooped up before. Will discuss more when I have time..

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I went from Burger cook to Desk Jockey. Now Im hoping i can get out of here soon enough and into a home office.

Good move. I transitioned to a full time remote worker at the beginning of 2010. I love it.

-Mike

[Southpaw5]

I went from construction supervisor to Sitting behind a desk at a bank...I really miss working outdoors or at least working in a capacity that involves physical work as well. If someone is holding a carrot in front of you, I say bite.

[Staccato]

Decisions, decisions, whether to start a business and work 12 or more hrs./day, or what?

If you begin work as a sub-contractor doing something, you'll be at the beck 'n call of various employers or a schedule that is ever changing?
If you become a general contractor, you'll be doing a ton of administrative duties that eat up time in addition to otherwise running the biz.

You can investigate options-discretely, and try to make sure your current employer does not think you're considering other options, eh?

Good luck in your quest!

[iamlowsound]

I am in the process of moving the other way. I want my body to still work properly when I am 40.

lowsound

[MadMan118]

My current job is a mix of sitting at a desk and going out on calls working on my feet.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by the feebler elf

Anybody here move on to a physical job after sitting behind a desk for years?

I've been at my current job as a structural draftsman for over seven years, and I've hated it for the past 3 or 4. It's not so much that I hate the work, it's that I hate being chained to a desk for 8 hours. I've been thinking about moving into a new career with similar pay that would require me to be on my feet and/or working with my hands all day - which I absolutely adore the idea of. I've never been content to sit around all day.

Has anybody here made a similar move in the past? If so, do you have any regrets, or have you never looked back?

I'd imagine that move could be refreshing/nice when you're still young. But in middle-age, the idea of working on my feet all day (which I used to do in my 20s for a good while) is not appealing at all--at least to me. If you do make the move, make sure there are opportunities down the road to go back to an office position. IMHO, YMMV, etc.

[the feebler elf]

I appreciate the opinions thus far, guys.

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

I am in the process of moving the other way. I want my body to still work properly when I am 40.

lowsound

Trust me, working a desk job has it's own share of pitfalls. The body wasn't designed to sit in a chair all day - I eat well and exercise very regularly, and I've still had health problems arise as a result of sitting down for 8-9 hours a day.

[McHaven]

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

I am in the process of moving the other way. I want my body to still work properly when I am 40.

lowsound

This. My dad has worked as an auto technician for 30 years. He just turned 50. His neck, back and wrists are pretty much destroyed. His limbs are either in constant pain or completely numb. He's entirely glad that I won't be entering any sort of manual labor because he doesn't want to see my body destroyed like his.

[standupright]

went the other way from chef to system architect.

i miss being a chef.