I have always been reminded of how fortunate we are, me and others who work offshore.We earn good money, we dine from a large selection of hot dishes and have smorgasboard every day, we have 3 or 4 weeks off after every 2 weeks offshore, and on and on it goes. I do count myself amongst the fortunate one's.
-Yes, I do have a good job.
-Yes I earn good money.
-Yes, I have 4 weeks off after 15 days offshore.
-And yes, I do have the choice of different dishes when I go to the mess room to eat.
Well, then what's there to say, more than: Good for you, enjoy your stay offshore!
-As usual I want to have a say on the matter as well. BIG SURPRICE! ( That's why I started this blog, remember?)
When I am offshore, I work for 12 hrs. Sometimes 16. 12 hrs x 14 days is 168 hrs total. That's 84 hrs a week, not counting overtime! How many of you landlubbers can say the same?
Sure, I eat well. Not as well as some think though. Cuisine on my workplace passed away years ago from economical causes. But we get fed. -And fat. Which we get constantly reminded of during our bi-annual health-exams and by offshore medic's.
Yes, I make good money. As a kid, I used to dream about having a job that paid a million per year. I didn't get a general education as everyone told me to get if I wanted to earn "real" money. I passed my three years at vocational school, got my papers (how did that happen?) and attended a 5 weeks course for working offshore as a wirelineoperator. Which in turn lead me to where I am now.... Earning a million ( We're not talking $ here guys, norwegian krone is my currency.)
What a prick, you say. No education and no degree and still getting paid a lot of money. Unfair!
Guess what, I'll let you into a little secret:
I don't care so much for the money or the fine meals anymore. My main concern when I go offshore is not how much money I get paid or wether the tenderloin beef on saturday nigth is tender enough. I use the last few days of my time off worrying for my family, my wife, my three kids!
It is not fun for me to leave them for 15 days.
It is not fun for me letting my wife do all the work by herself.
It is not fun for me to put my family second to work.
But guess what; I have to! This is what I do, this is what I have done my whole working life, this is all I know how to do for a living...
And that sucks! But I love my job, do not misunderstand me. I am even pretty sure that I am good at what I do. But I seriously doubt that I would have started working offshore NOW, after having a family of my own. That would be to much. Because I love them, and I miss them every second of my working schedule. That is the price we have to pay, both me and them. Luckily they are very supportive and understanding.
My wife is fantastic in the way she cope with the kids and her work alltogether.
She is truly my everyday hero!
As for what I earn, I contribute to norwegian welfare by paying the equvivalent to my wife's gross income in annual taxes, so I do not even feel guilty for what I earn. I just hope that someday when me or my family need something in return from the government, my years spent paying for and working for our common welfare will give me something in return.
I guess that's what it is all about, giving and getting... It sureis better than envying the neighbours paycheck.
Have a nice day all!
"My dog is worried about the economy because dogfood is up to 99 cents a can. That's almost $7.00 in dog money."
-Joe Weinstein
