Any big goals for 2014? | Page 2 | General Homesteading Discussion | Forums

Some good progress, and some unexpected hurdles.

Apparently breaking into the carpentry business is a tough go. I've been speaking with people in/around the industry that I know and most employers are only interested in bringing on labour, not in bringing on guys and registering them as apprentices. They way it works here is you have to have a related job first, then you can apply for the apprenticeship program provided your employer will back you. Since it is more work for your employer, and in the end they end up paying your a higher wage, most are reluctant to do so.

I'm going to keep up with the two carpentry unions in my city, looking for opportunities there, and I've been compiling a list of local builders/renovators that do efficient or green building that I am also watching for opportunities.

I'm looking at some courses over the fall/winter that might give me a leg up. Things like WHMIS training, fall prevention training, first responder training, that sort of stuff. There is also a LEED certificate course offered that provides the basics of LEED building practice. Basically I am looking at anything that can show I am interested in the field and my mind/body are ready to rumble.

Finance wise I've retired all debt but the mortgage, reduced my living expenses, and I am building my war chest so I am more in line with my future expected income in the first few years of the transition. I'm currently living off 60% to 70% of my salary in a given month, but would like to get that down to 50%.

In short I am making progress on the things I have control over, and rolling with the punches elsewhere. My hope is in the spring I'll feel more comfortable with my war chest, I'll have completed a few courses, and hopefully some opportunities will open up as things are a bit seasonal around here.

I didn't put it as a goal as I am a chicken. Maybe this will give me some added motivation to man up.