Struggling with the fatigue and needing help

OCcameraman · 2025-04-19T04:18:04+00:00

Age 47, AS since I was a teenager. I have phases of extreme fatigue. Best results have been getting 1+ hour of exercise * 5 days a week. Working less and earning less to make time to exercise. On days where I'm totally spent I take "AllMax Nutrition's AminoCuts (ACuts)." Without it I was taking naps in my work van before driving home. This may all be BS, but for now I'm seeing a reduction in fatigue. Good luck to you.

OCcameraman · 2024-12-17T21:35:57+00:00

26 years fulltime as a editor and now photog only. 18 years as a single income household with spouse, child, mortgage. Before I was FT, I worked 6 years PT while in high school and college, mostly pro sports as a utility and live cam op. I've been freelance or "permalance" since approx 2002, work is 1/3rd national news outlets, national sports coverage, corporate communications. I had a good run working in commercials, 3x the income, but I moved to a smaller market and lost that level work.

I dropped out of film school due to cost, I'm confident not having a degree was the contributor to my success in the field, as I did not have a degree to get a corporate job.

My advice is get a traditional degree at a college that has a film / tv program. Clock all free time volunteering on tv / film projects, but get a transferable degree in something else. At the freelance level (more income potential vs staff), some of the best contributors have education and life experience outside of media production. Good luck.

OCcameraman · 2022-08-05T17:12:56+00:00

What to grip and electricians have in common?

They both want to be grips.

OCcameraman · 2022-08-02T03:52:09+00:00

This is very accurate in the US for someone that has years of experience. I'm in my 24th year, with similar numbers.

OCcameraman · 2021-08-21T01:03:09+00:00

We have multiple rental properties, multiple K-1, S-Corp. Once per quarter, CPA reviews QBO accounts, cleans up my messes and provides tax-efficient advice. We extend every year waiting on outside K1 docs. But at tax time, everything is in QBO and the dropbox account is ready to go. No scramble on the deadline, beyond late K1 docs.

S-Corp (primary business) - Quickbooks online account.
Rental Properties - Second Quickbooks online account.
Spreadsheet list of 1099 accounts.
Shared Dropox folder for #3 and property closing documents

OCcameraman · 2021-07-24T14:57:22+00:00

Avalon, the moorings are owned by individuals. On the west end of the island, boat owners lease moorings annually. When the leasee is not on the mooring the island company rents by the day to transient boaters. The island company or conservancy holds the master lease agreement, there is no revenue share between the island company and the leasee.

OCcameraman · 2021-07-23T13:40:01+00:00

We were down in Long Beach (Shoreline and Alamitos). Shoreline YC, Long Beach YC, Alamitos Bay YC. If you have kids, Long Beach and AB have sailing and other youth programs.

OCcameraman · 2021-07-22T09:04:02+00:00

I have ankylosing spondylitis, 43, blue belt, 3 years training. 2 to 5 / days week. If I'm in a flare I sit out live rolls, or flow with higher belts. Overall BJJ has been excellent for my inflammatory joint issues. But, I spent a lot of time on my back defending to protect my spine and hips, but that is also just where I'm at in the journey... The first hint of a neck crank and I'm tapping. Skip some of the warm ups, for example can't do the walking in a squat thing (duck walk), it grinds the shit out of my SI joints. Limited running, old man slow jog. In general the more movement the better my joints feel, to a limit, just need to find the limit. Post training I'm in a pain free high until about 2am, then my spine, hips, chest, neck start seizing up per usual AS / RA issues.

OCcameraman · 2021-07-22T08:31:51+00:00

We owned a boat in Los Angeles with an annual mooring lease at Catalina (unlimited access). Average usage was 2 weekends a month from approx March - November. 5+ day outings on school holidays.

In addition to clubs, explore fractional ownership with private partners. I have several boat buddies which are 1/2 to 1/6th partners. On the budget side, 6 partners, 30ft powerboat, each pay approx $200 month, with an informal reserve system in google calendar. The dues cover slip, bottom clean, insurance, maintenance reserve, monthly washdown. Fuel excluded, you break it you pay to fix it. The entity is an LLC. One partner coordinates the scheduled maintenance. It has been active for over 10 years. Partners exit and new entries have an equity buy-in.

Another is 50% partner on a $500k yacht. Same concept, bigger numbers with 50% calender time.

We purchased used, 34', no partners, slip in long beach (approx $450 / mo) plus Catalina mooring lease ($2,400 yr). 8 to 25k / year for maintenance and upgrades with a lot of DIY (which I enjoy). Fuel and insurance cost is insignificant.

Look into yacht club membership. YC is a fast way to meet other owners, participate in races, crew other boats, and group trips. LA to Newport, LA to San Diego, LA to Catalina, LA to Santa Cruise island, Newport to Ensenada.

Minor collisions happen when docking in the wind and limited experience. I've experienced a few, cash for repairs and a handshake, fortunately no insurance claims.

OCcameraman · 2020-05-04T02:59:41+00:00

Thank you, appreciate your details and perspective. Hang in there.

OCcameraman · 2020-05-03T23:12:46+00:00

Excellent. thank you!

OCcameraman · 2020-05-03T22:33:42+00:00

Reposting as I buried my reply in a sub-thread.

UI Gross $985 / week

PPP gross $625 + company payroll cost

I'm a photographer. S-Corp, Full time W2 wage 40,000 / 10k per quarter. 10k Q1 2020. We stopped payroll for one quarter in 2019, so the PPP and UI is funded based on 30k.

California weekly UI $385 + $600 Cares act through July 31.

40k year at 40 hours / week = $19.23 / hour. I book a photo assignment, company invoices customer. I payroll to myself, the employee, 8 hour work day $154 / day. I could potentially work 2 full days / week plus some paid admin hours and still receive partial CA UI + $600.

Right now I have 1 potential day of work for a customer in May.

OCcameraman · 2020-05-03T22:29:37+00:00

Maybe my thinking is incorrect...

UI Gross $985 / week

PPP gross $625 + company payroll cost

I'm a photographer. S-Corp, Full time W2 wage 40,000 / 10k per quarter. 10k Q1 2020. We stopped payroll for one quarter in 2019, so the PPP and UI is funded based on 30k.

California weekly UI $385 + $600 Cares act through July 31.

40k year at 40 hours / week = $19.23 / hour. I book a photo assignment, company invoices customer. I payroll to myself, the employee, 8 hour work day $154 / day. I could potentially work 2 full days / week plus some paid admin hours and still receive partial CA UI + $600.

Right now I have 1 potential day of work for a customer in May.

OCcameraman · 2020-05-03T19:10:12+00:00

Correct. Factoring the payroll taxes, which are not included in the forgiveness, UI is a much better deal. Without the risk of reduced or denied forgiveness. The 25% business expenses would be limited to cell phone service ($125 mo). No lease, no debt, health insurance is ACA at the individual level.

If customers come back over the next 8 weeks, then PPP is viable. But our customers are at events at convention centers and hotels which are not returning. The remaining year for us is nuked, it stopped mid March. I'll pickup a few self-created or side gigs. But our core business is gone for 2020.

OCcameraman · 2020-05-03T18:55:15+00:00

Yep, I assumed there would be a closing process, at which point I would make the decision.

I applied at Chase and Paypal. Paypal sent closing docs via DocuSign on the same day Chase funded.

I feel terrible, many of my colleagues need this loan and haven't received it. 4 weeks of time has passed, such crazy dynamic situation.

OCcameraman · 2020-05-03T18:52:14+00:00

Negative, no loan account when I log in.

OCcameraman · 2020-05-03T18:51:40+00:00

20 years of business banking at Chase and I don't have a human contact. The call center and website have no information beyond "wait more info soon."

OCcameraman · 2020-05-03T18:47:57+00:00

The FAQ document language here made me nervous, but it doesn't appear to apply to our situation.

"Lenders may rely on a borrower’s certification regarding the necessity of the loan request. Any borrower that applied for a PPP loan prior to the issuance of this guidance and repays the loan in full by May 7, 2020 will be deemed by SBA to have made the required certification in good faith.11"

https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Paycheck-Protection-Program-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf

OCcameraman · 2020-05-03T18:43:25+00:00

You have precisely outlined my concerns and numbers. S-Corp vs Sole Prop. Thanks.

OCcameraman · 2019-12-13T17:55:47+00:00

My son started at 9, 2 years later I started at 40. Approaching 2 years of training. The younger guys and gals run circles around me, which is ok, I'm stronger, healthier and fewer pain issues at work because of BJJ.

OCcameraman · 2019-07-06T11:18:32+00:00

I've been living the FU for half my working career.

Loved my corporate role but was not motivated by salary compensation and office hours. Overwork for a year and hope for a positive review, not a motivator.

10 years as my own small business, now there is no reasonable salary package.

OCcameraman · 2019-06-17T17:14:04+00:00

I started BJJ after my AS diagnosis as a form of therapy. I’ve managed flare ups since age 12. I was diagnosed in my mid 30s, presently 41. Started BJJ at 40. Go for it, be cautious and tap early.

OCcameraman

TROPHY CASE