When I was a kid I always liked going on Scout camps. I think what I liked specifically was:
- It meant spending an extended period of time (whole days, with little break) in the same collective of 20+ people.
- I would drift between the various groups there, and would get to know everyone.
- The collective would experience new situations every few hours, or even just being bored together when ‘nothing’ was happening (when waiting for stuff etc.).
What I liked was how there was a strong feeling of community because we were all experiencing the same thing together. Being around people meant my mind was continuously in the present. For these reasons I feel that this is the environment I thrive in the most.
Unfortunately this would only ever happen once or twice a year, and since I am 21 I wanted to ask if anyone can think of any job descriptions where this happens.
The first thing I thought of is working on a submarine but I was hoping for something a bit less radical. I thought this might be the experience in university dorms but it turns out that in my country dorms are pretty dead because with the exception of cooking, people stay in their rooms.
I mean, you could literally work at a summer camp. Otherwise the only things I can think of that fit your descriptors is potentially field research, or maybe working for a company that follows festivals.
Consider jobs involving fieldwork. There are all sorts of jobs that involve a team in a remote / isolated location, and some tend to pay pretty well because most people aren’t up for that sort of lifestyle. For example my father was a geologist and could spend months at a time with a team in remote locations, conducting surveys and taking samples.
Land surveying would be my recommendation. Jobs can be all over and as someone living in BC, my days of fieldwork could be absolutely spectacular sometimes. You also tend to jump around in worksites and with the right firm, travelling is definitely possible.
I think North Korea and Siberia have labor camps that provide free room and board. The pay is shit, tho.
The first thing I thought of is working on a submarine
That is also something I’ve had some interest in, but besides military (I don’t want to be involved with it in any way), I don’t think there are that many submarines out there.
One fewer than there used to be, certainly.
Did the front fall off?
Turns out a wave hit it
At sea? Chance in a million!
Well you can’t be certain how many submarines are out there unless you have sonar and depth chargers
You’re a burner.
Why not work as a camp counselor?
Opportunities abound abroad, China if you want to go Asia, most places in Europe. They’re a bit like English cram courses in China so maybe ESL or STEM.
You could start as a ranch hand, especially if you know how to ride. You can work on both a regular ranch or on a “resort ranch” that focuses on tourism. You just have to find a ranch that has around that 20ish employees.
But then it would fit all of your points. You are spending your whole day with the same group of people.
Drifting between groups will depend a bit on your exact duties but no matter what you are going to get to know everyone and work with others occasionally.
New things are constantly coming up to do. Your duties also change with the season. And even if there is “nothing” to do you will still hang out with the other farm hands.
You have that authority over you in form of the ranch manager/owner.
Pay isn’t great but it might come with free lodging, then it isn’t that bad.
Production/stage hand at events fits up this alley!
Search Google for Kwajalein Jobs. It’s an Atoll in the Marshall Islands that hosts a US military installation, however there is no need to be in the military to work there. I do work there as a contractor for a week every year or two and it sure reminds me of the summer camp I used to work at.
My first thought was working at a startup.
Working for the parks, I have a neighbor who stays home a few days and packs up his truck with a camper and heads off to different national parks for weeks at a time
Strongly encourage you to find work in a conservation corps or similar organization if they exist in your country and you are able to do manual labor. You would be on a crew of 6-15 people usually living out at a field site for 1-2 weeks at a time, cooking and living and working together to improve the natural environment or recreation infrastructure. Hard rewarding work, good peaceful downtime. Great chance to read a lot of books too since you will be away from computers and modernity.
Look for a book called ‘Discover What You Are Best At’ by Linda Gail.
First half of the book is a series of self administered tests you can knock off in half a day. The second part is a list of jobs that use those skills.
It pointed me at a job I’d never considered, but turned out to be a great fit.
Ooh that sounds useful, will check it out
