westend wrote:
abom2 wrote:
I have been following the work in my RV since 07. Refinery expansions, worked in Tioga, ND, then on to Chicago. Presently I am working the Eagle Ford in South Texas. I guess I was prepped to be be away from home with two hitches in the Marines, then two more in the Army. Always away from home, wife, kids. I have missed out on a lot of my kids growing up but they always had what they needed. They sometimes had what they wanted. I did ensure that each had the chance to go to college, something I always desired.
I have taken courses, but work or our country called and I never completed in a timely enough manner to come out with a degree.
Is it a tough life. Yep.
My loving and loyal wife of 30+ yrs has been the foundation that has enabled me to do this work. It has been tough at times but our children are grown and on their way in the world. Now I work to enable us to hopefully one day retire and hopefully full-time together.
I trust neither side. Today it seems no side will give anything but half truths at best. Most just spout innuendo, catchy phrases, or just plain old lie's. Does not matter who- Citizens Groups, Government, Free Press, Press in general, business. I research the best I can, listen to the drivel, filter out the B.S., and finally make my own decision.
Ya, it's tough and you covered the toughest part, being away from home and family.
One year, I worked nearly the whole year (that's 7-12's, minimum). When I got home, I had to ask the wife what a "garthbrooks" was, lol.
How did you make out in Tioga? I hear they're a lot of different ways that guys are making it through in an RV. I'm getting old, now, so I'm getting to be a big baby about the cold. That indoor RV park in Watford City looks awfully inviting. ;)
BTW, thanks for serving.
I was in Tioga in the early days. It was just starting to really boom. No housing, few motels. Local inhabitants were trying to do the right thing and protect their towns from the effects of the "Bust" period. The region got burned in the '83 Bust quite badly.
I set up in Minot and drove everyday 87 miles one way to work. I was working an average of 100-110 hrs a week. That lasted five months and my health started to suffer badly. By the fifth month of me ignoring the earlier warning signs my body sent me a message that was loud and clear.
I was lucky though. I had to resign my position but a new offer making the same money with a little less stress and only 60 hr work week came out of the blue within 24 hrs of resigning. It helped get my health back on track. Winter was a challenge for me. I did the skirting with C3 lights under the trailer, and in the basement. 120 gallon propane hook up. Upgraded electrical to 50 amps. I put everything on its own GFCI, added the in-line voltage conditioner and surge/voltage protection. I put a lot of money into a 5th wheel that really should not have if one strictly looked at the value of the RV. But my safety and the ability to work each day out weighed the extra expense.
The local people I met and interacted with were great and very friendly. I understood their wariness of the oil workers due to their previous experience and especially those from Texas. LOL
At first when they saw my Texas plates, and I am a native Texan they assumed the worst. But within a few minutes that problem went away. The locals who saw me at work and how each person on our staff ensured that the quality requirements and inspections were performed to the letter of the law, spec, and contract no matter the delays or costs helped develop some good friendships. We did not want to be perceived as locusts or slip shod in anyway or manner.
That was back three years ago. I can only guess what it is like now. I left a great group of people there. I wish my health would have allowed it.
My wife and I worried about the loss of such a substantial income but we reasoned that even if lived to finish the year there that I would end up giving all the money to the doctors in the end. As it was I was once again the luckiest man around and my phone rang the next day with an offer out of the blue.
I had not had a chance to network or even check for job openings.
At my current age 60-72 hr work weeks is the max for me now. If a project can be done with only 50 hrs a week from me I am good with that.
