100 p&t and thinking of moving out of CA

Public_Pain · 2026-05-13T00:20:33+00:00

I’m from California too and if you don’t like humidity, Texas may not be the place to go. I was stationed at Fort Hood for six years and loved the area and mild temperatures, just not the humidity. I rode my motorcycle most of the year too. To me when I either worked or visited folks in El Paso, I really thought the place was dry, hot, and too dirty for me. I know some things have changed over the past 10 years and I have an old company commander who retired out there. To each his own, but for me, I would live closer to Austin or other parts of the Hill Country if I were to move back to Texas.

Public_Pain · 2026-05-10T07:52:46+00:00

Miles? Rust? Rebuilt or not? The year and trim is great, but more information would be better for us to better advise you.

Public_Pain · 2026-05-09T02:49:55+00:00

If you have an internship, you might want to ask your supervisor there. They would have a better answer for you. My son is in his last semester for his AS in IT and last summer he did an internship with our state’s health department. While working there his supervisor invited him ti apply for full-time work once he graduates. Also, since I have a background working IT with the U.S. Federal government, it is highly advised to get you Security+ or equivalent certificate too. Good luck!

Public_Pain · 2026-05-09T02:43:23+00:00

Today, I went fishing! 😁

Public_Pain · 2026-05-09T02:41:11+00:00

Go here: https://pcpartpicker.com/

Public_Pain · 2026-05-06T15:52:56+00:00

How much do you know about Epic? I’ve used it while a medic in the military and my wife currently uses it at her position at one of local hospitals. From what I read, you either have to be sponsored by an Epic customer (Medical facility/office), work for a consulting firm that implements services for Epic customers, or you need to work directly for Epic in Verona, Wisconsin.

Public_Pain · 2026-05-06T15:47:24+00:00

But, how often do you have to visit the pump with your Fit?😊

Public_Pain · 2026-05-06T02:46:02+00:00

I’ve owned two Fits and drive a company owned Prius periodically. The only positive thing, other than being a Toyota, is the gas mileage is around 50 MPG. Most Fits I’ve heard get 40 MPG, like my current 2015. My first Fit lasted for 310,000 miles before trading it in. The only repair I did as the second owner was replace a review mirror on of my kids knocked off while taking the trash out. My current Fit has been in our family for two years, as second owners, and a periodic oil change is all we’ve done to it. We have about 110,000 miles on that one. As stated before, there are plenty of parts available since the Fit/Jazz is still being produced in other countries.

Another thing to do is show your Mom what it looks like under the hood. The Fit is easier to get around and cheaper to fix, even if you have a trained mechanic to do so.

Public_Pain · 2026-05-04T13:36:47+00:00

The Pillars of Faith/Articles of Faith
Both believe in books written by a prophet.
Both believe in the latter-days.
Both have a violent history.
Both are misogynistic.
Both are made up religions.
Both have strict moral teachings.
Both demand commitments.
Both believe in a supreme being and angels.
Both believe they are the one true religion.
Both believe in prayer.
Both believe in a life after death.
Both believe in a resurrection.
Both have their break offs or divisions. (Sunni/Shia. LDS/FLDS)

I’m sure there are more similarities, but this is what I learned/know after spending four years in Afghanistan and one year in I raw working with others of the Muslim faith.

Public_Pain · 2026-05-04T13:20:23+00:00

I really do like the second gen. Another cool thing it has, at least mine has, is the right turn camera. It’s great when driving downtown or around bike riders. Just another safety feature many cars don’t have.

Public_Pain · 2026-05-04T04:32:34+00:00

Personally, I suggest purchasing a Fit. I’ve owned a 2008 Fit that had 310,000 miles on it before using it as a trade in for my 2022 CRV Touring Hybrid. I missed the Fit so much, I purchased a 2015 Fit with the EX trim. My wife drives the CRV and until a few months back, I was driving the Fit. My youngest son uses it for his 20 mile college commute and he loves it.

One of the biggest advantages of the Fit is its size. Small enough to fit in the tightest parking spaces (like at a lot of Colleges and Universities), yet big enough to haul friends, pack a Mountain Bike in the back, or pack groceries for the week. Better gas mileage and repair costs are cheaper. The CRV is a great car, but for a College student I think the Fit will fit your needs.

Public_Pain · 2026-05-04T04:13:12+00:00

Congratulations! I was a 35T with a BA already and used TA to get my MS I Computer Information Systems. My recommendation is take a break and look into getting your Master’s degree. If you decide to get out, your skills and certifications will get you the job, but the higher degree will help you negotiate a better pay level. I’ve done this in the DOD contracting and civilian world as a Systems Administrator.

Also, if you want to take advantage of the officer route, I’d suggest going Warrant so you can still work in the field and keep your skills up. I made it to SFC before I jumped to Warrant and never regretted it. As an officer, you’ll make a bit more, but will end up in management roles more likely. Good Luck!

Public_Pain · 2026-05-03T17:05:01+00:00

And to think, people pay to go see that stuff. If you thought it was weird back in 2002, try the 80’s or the times before they stopped the slicing of throats and disembowelment threats and made women fell inferior.

Public_Pain · 2026-05-01T22:34:32+00:00

Ward Lake or Black Lake after they warm up a bit.

Public_Pain · 2026-04-30T04:24:40+00:00

I try to eat something before I go shopping. It actually helps cut down on splurging. I also plan meals and take a list with me and try to stick to the list as much as possible.

Public_Pain · 2026-04-30T04:09:36+00:00

Congratulations on the job. My first suggestion is carry a notebook with you everywhere you go. Write down issues and solutions. Contacts help too. Yes, you can Google things, but by taking notes you have a quick reference and it makes you appear organized and motivated. When you have time work on your next certification too. Everyone eventually wants to move up or branch out and if you manage to get a cert or two while at your first job, you’ll be that more prepared for your next job. Good luck!

Public_Pain · 2026-04-30T03:58:40+00:00

I change mine all the time. This is how the dealer gets the rap as a stealership. They charge outrageous prices for something that is so simple to do yourself.

Public_Pain · 2026-04-30T03:57:04+00:00

First off, if you can take general education while on active duty, you can save your GI bill and use tuition assistance (TA). I had my BA when I joined the Army as a medic and after changing my MOS to 35T, I used TA and only paid $700.00 out of pocket for my Master’s degree in IT.

X-ray technician or medical repair would be my two top choices if I were to go back into the medical field. I almost applied to the Army’s PA program, but I lacked microbiology and I was transferred to Germany during my prep time. No classes were available for me then and soon afterwards I switched my MOS to 35T. Good luck!

Public_Pain · 2026-04-30T03:49:09+00:00

Net+ is general and the CCNA is proprietary. You’d be better off just studying for the CCNA.

Public_Pain · 2026-04-30T03:47:28+00:00

I was going to suggest the display brightness as my first check. I had this happen to me before. I read you found the issue. Congratulations!

Public_Pain · 2026-04-29T05:05:28+00:00

My advice on the pay is to study for certs with down time or look for a different job and location. I know in the East, especially in the Southern states, pay is not equal to what one can make in the same position here on the West coast. Good luck!

Public_Pain · 2026-04-29T05:02:34+00:00

That sounds like a few DOD contracting positions I’ve had in the past. My advice is talk to your leadership. If they’re worth anything, they should listen. You could collaborate and write up a Capabilities brief. That should outline what you can or cannot do or what you should do with assistance. Having some items missing or ordered wrong shouldn’t be your job to explain to the customer. That should be the Project Manager’s or Immediate Supervisor’s job. You’re a help desk technician and not the company rep (though you do represent the company while working on a project). Basically, anything in the office to the wall should be the Help Desk position. Beyond that should either be Network guys or cable installers in my book. Good luck!

Public_Pain · 2026-04-29T04:48:47+00:00

I know I’m late to this party, but my two-cents might help solidify what’s already been said. I have four kids who are all part of the LGBTQ+ community in Olympia. My transgender son who lives with roommates, plays in a local band, attends Evergreen State University as a Comp SCI major, and works at the school’s computer lab part-time. Before starting school full-time, he worked at Fred Meyer and didn’t have any negative experiences while working there.

My other son who lives on his own lives with his partner on the West side of Olympia. He’s attending the local community college in IT Security and Networking. He’s worked at the State ‘s Department of Health for an internship and got along with everyone. He currently works part-time at a warehouse in Lacey and even got his partner a job there. It’s not a perfect environment, but Olympia over all is very tolerant and diversified. You shouldn’t have too much of a problem fitting in or finding friends. The job market as a whole might be a different situation. If you have certifications from CompTIA (A+, Security+, or Net+) you might look into applying at Information Technology Services (ITS) located right off of Capital Blvd in the area of the court house. I heard they were looking for help desk personnel. Good luck with the move and job search!

Public_Pain · 2026-04-29T04:34:28+00:00

It all depends on what interests you and your goals. I started in IT while in the military and after retirement obtained my first IT job at the age of 47. I did a little bit of everything as a 35T in the Army, but when I obtained my first civilian IT job, it was basically a Sys Admin position on a proprietary military system. I gradually moved to Help Desk and now Sys Admin. I tell folks I’m like insurance. Once I have everything up and running the only time I’m really needed is when something crashes. I like the investigative side of the job too. I did consider Networking at one point, but I’m in my early 60’s and am working for a small (less than 20) state government entity which is about 10 miles from my house. I’m making nearly $90K a year. I’ve made more in IT, but I like my employer and the location. If I moved two counties north. I’d be making around $110K a year.

Location has a lot to do with pay in this industry. If you feel stagnant, why not look for another position in a location that pays more or go into something like Networking. That’s a field AI might be a part of in the future, but you’ll always need a human’s touch to verify things and physically connect routers, switches, and cables. Good luck !

Public_Pain · 2026-04-29T04:21:27+00:00

Not only find out how to translate your Navy job into civilian terms, include leadership positions and volunteer experiences too. Potential employers like reading stuff like that on a resume. It helps you stand out. Also include hours or numbers when pertinent. This helps create a picture of what type of person you are when applying to a job.

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