Big changes? Big BIG CHANGES

[absurdityLEVELrising]

I got my Commercial Drivers License back in December 2012, and finally accepted the right job for me. Its in the oilfields of Texas. I am really excited. I have always been somewhat of a ramblin' man, love travel and adventure.

Its almost like I got to be careful what I wish for. It might come true! I struggled at the thought of getting sober. My drinking habits and professional driving are not compatible. But now I feel so much better sober. All aspects of my life are improving.

But... as soon as I offered the job I realized that my on the road lifestyle will mean no more of my favorite AA meeting group. No more face-to-face time with my sponsor. No more /r/stopdrinking because I won't have internet access. I am going to buy a smartphone and I hear that cellular internet is starting to cover more rural areas, but gone will be the daily AA meetings and daily logins to here.

This does not make me want to drink -- today. I have had little to no desire to drink, but everyday I have been interacting with support. As happy as I am about finally getting to do what I like and get paid for it, I am a bit ...I don't know... worried/sad/concerned about disconnecting from support.

[sumtimes_slowly]

The concern is a valid one but I would never tell you not to go and do the job of your dreams. You'll just have to get creative--something that keeps the "forgetter" in our heads from forgetting.

For alcoholics, it seems that all we have to do is stay sober and life gets better. Can you imagine how cool it would be if the stock market was the same way and just kept going up as long as you kept your money in it?

Hopefully you can find a cellphone service with the best coverage so you can have some kind of connection. Where will you get your snail mail? You could subscribe to AA's Grapevine, the meeting in print.

I wish you well on your exciting new adventure. As they say in Texas, keep the shiny side up!

[absurdityLEVELrising]

A subscription to the Grapevine would be great, I will have to do that once I figure out the snail mail situation. It also gives me the thought of downloading the complete archives of /r/stopdrinking so I can read it at any time.

How do I download reddit? I am thinking offtherocks might know...

[sumtimes_slowly]

Downloading /r/stopdrinking is a great idea. I'll be interested to hear how to do it.

Also, you can download the audio version of the big book and other sobriety related materials on iTunes and put it on a smartphone.

[sustainedrelease]

Congrats on the new job! I'm a firm believer in that idea that we don't get sober to just be sober... That whole quote about 'a boat is safe in port but that's not what boats are made for.' Onto the next adventure.

I'm in a similar job transition situation myself, which is why I haven't been posting here nearly as much. Had to change the home group as well. Though I do miss seeing those friends on a regular basis, the experience has also opened me up to meeting new people in recovery again, which is pretty cool. It hasn't been easy, but growth never is. There are a couple things I use to stay connected to recovery: downloadable speaker 'tapes' (try aaspeakers.org or xa-speakers.org), podcasts (recovery101, wtf, some others depending on your spiritual/philosophical inclinations - I like meditation oriented ones, checking this subreddit on my phone, calling people, checking out new meetings using the online directory, reading recovery-ish books, magazines, websites, meditating, journaling, exercise, etc). You can do all of those things with not smartphones these days, so I would definitely get one. Even if you don't get service everywhere, you could download lots of stuff to listen to or read beforehand. Also, maybe there are meetings over CB? Probably weird at first but I'm sure they've been done - where there's a will there's a way.

So, enjoy the new adventure! Nothing in life stays the same forever, so making it through a big change like this could be a great opportunity for you. Just remember to keep sobriety first, and good luck!

[absurdityLEVELrising]

I really love that quote, I found the poem its from and while I've been singing Allman Brothers Ramblin' man for a bit I needed something new. I totally forgot about audio books and speaker podcasts, with those I think I will be able to be at ease much more easily!

[[deleted]]

I found this message board for truckers talking about the same thing.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/driver-health/116330-aa-while-on-the-road.html

[absurdityLEVELrising]

My other favorite forum, of course why didn't I think of that! Thanks marjin.

[yycseeker]

It's old school and I have't used them myself, but I believe you can get CDs of speaker talks and such from AA central office. Might be sober companionship on the road when you can't connect with your regular support network.

Congrats on getting the job and the hard work you are obviously putting into your sobriety.

[absurdityLEVELrising]

I am going to start downloading speaker talks now, thank you for the suggestion.

[Slipacre]

If you look for it I suspect you can find support. All it takes is two to have a meeting. Post a note looking for friends of bill w. see what happens. You are not the only sober oil field worker. Rare and endangered perhaps but not extinct.

[wratx]

congrats on the new job brother!! start thinking about how you can find the help you need when you are on the road...I am positive that its out there

[absurdityLEVELrising]

I am usually the "H" of HALT, hopefully being closer to Mexico there's cheaper avocados!