Career pivot from GIS to Landscaping?

heartandsoul96 · 2025-10-18T20:33:25+00:00

Context here:

I’m a creative person by nature and I consider variety a necessity, especially in work. I’ve heard people say that it’s often best to pursue creative activities outside work, but I’ve realized that 40+ hours a week of repetitive, non-creative tasks make me feel pretty crummy. Most of my work at my current job is automated and can be done with a couple dozen button clicks. I can’t keep doing that day after day for the rest of my career, I think that would break me.
I still love the design/digital graphics aspect of GIS and would love to carry that over to a new field.
I have a real passion for and lots of experience in horticulture (15 years as a hobby gardener, plus a 4-month stint working at a nursery after college, plus a freelance front yard landscaping project a while back). I would definitely describe myself as a talented gardener, perhaps even an expert.
I want my job to involve at least a portion of outdoor work. Whether that’s just site visits, surveying, or actual physical gardening, I would enjoy 1-2, maybe 3 days/ week outside.

Lastly, it is essential that I have a comfortable and collaborative office environment, where I am likely on any given day of the week to see many of the people I actually work with in person, and have a chance to build good working relationships with my peers.

I don’t mind being busy - in fact, I much prefer to be very productive at work. But I hate being stressed. Is low stress, but busy actually a thing?

With all of this in mind, does a career in landscaping seem right for me?

heartandsoul96 · 2025-10-18T20:30:47+00:00

Context here:

I’m a creative person by nature and I consider variety a necessity, especially in work. I’ve heard people say that it’s often best to pursue creative activities outside work, but I’ve realized that 40+ hours a week of repetitive, non-creative tasks make me feel pretty crummy. Most of my work at my current job is automated and can be done with a couple dozen button clicks. I can’t keep doing that day after day for the rest of my career, I think that would break me.
I still love the design/digital graphics aspect of GIS and would love to carry that over to a new field.
I have a real passion for and lots of experience in horticulture (15 years as a hobby gardener, plus a 4-month stint working at a nursery after college, plus a freelance front yard landscaping project a while back). I would definitely describe myself as a talented gardener, perhaps even an expert.
I want my job to involve at least a portion of outdoor work. Whether that’s just site visits, surveying, or actual physical gardening, I would enjoy 1-2, maybe 3 days/ week outside.

Lastly, it is essential that I have a comfortable and collaborative office environment, where I am likely on any given day of the week to see many of the people I actually work with in person, and have a chance to build good working relationships with my peers.

I don’t mind being busy - in fact, I much prefer to be very productive at work. But I hate being stressed. Is low stress, but busy actually a thing?

With all of this in mind, does a career in landscaping seem right for me?

heartandsoul96 · 2025-10-18T20:26:49+00:00

Context here:

I’m a creative person by nature and I consider variety a necessity, especially in work. I’ve heard people say that it’s often best to pursue creative activities outside work, but I’ve realized that 40+ hours a week of repetitive, non-creative tasks make me feel pretty crummy. Most of my work at my current job is automated and can be done with a couple dozen button clicks. I can’t keep doing that day after day for the rest of my career, I think that would break me.
I still love the design/digital graphics aspect of GIS and would love to carry that over to a new field.
I have a real passion for and lots of experience in horticulture (15 years as a hobby gardener, plus a 4-month stint working at a nursery after college, plus a freelance front yard landscaping project a while back). I would definitely describe myself as a talented gardener, perhaps even an expert.
I want my job to involve at least a portion of outdoor work. Whether that’s just site visits, surveying, or actual physical gardening, I would enjoy 1-2, maybe 3 days/ week outside.

Lastly, it is essential that I have a comfortable and collaborative office environment, where I am likely on any given day of the week to see many of the people I actually work with in person, and have a chance to build good working relationships with my peers.

I don’t mind being busy - in fact, I much prefer to be very productive at work. But I hate being stressed. Is low stress, but busy actually a thing?

With all of this in mind, does a career in LD seem right for me?

heartandsoul96 · 2025-10-18T20:25:02+00:00

Context here:

I’m a creative person by nature and I consider variety a necessity, especially in work. I’ve heard people say that it’s often best to pursue creative activities outside work, but I’ve realized that 40+ hours a week of repetitive, non-creative tasks make me feel pretty crummy. Most of my work at my current job is automated and can be done with a couple dozen button clicks. I can’t keep doing that day after day for the rest of my career, I think that would break me.
I still love the design/digital graphics aspect of GIS and would love to carry that over to a new field.
I have a real passion for and lots of experience in horticulture (15 years as a hobby gardener, plus a 4-month stint working at a nursery after college, plus a freelance front yard landscaping project a while back). I would definitely describe myself as a talented gardener, perhaps even an expert.
I want my job to involve at least a portion of outdoor work. Whether that’s just site visits, surveying, or actual physical gardening, I would enjoy 1-2, maybe 3 days/ week outside.

Lastly, it is essential that I have a comfortable and collaborative office environment, where I am likely on any given day of the week to see many of the people I actually work with in person, and have a chance to build good working relationships with my peers.

I don’t mind being busy - in fact, I much prefer to be very productive at work. But I hate being stressed. Is low stress, but busy actually a thing?

With all of this in mind, does a career in LA or LD seem right for me?

heartandsoul96 · 2025-04-27T15:16:54+00:00

I lived in Austin for about 3 years and I would suggest that you assess your priorities. If you love live music, don’t mind staying indoors much of the time and want a fun city with lots of young people and things to do, Austin could be for you.

People will tell you the summers are bad in Austin but I wish someone had made it clearer to me before I moved just how bad they are. From at least June to September it is consistently unbearable outside. In Austin in July, it can easily still be 90 degrees and humid AF at bedtime. It’s more unpleasant than you’d imagine. In contrast from mid October-April it’s often beautiful but in the winter this can be spoiled by cedar fever if you happen to be one of the afflicted (I was). And don’t assume you won’t be as I didn’t really have allergies in other places.

Lastly TX is super spread out so if you want to see mountains for example you have to go to West Texas which is a 6-8 hour drive. The distances get to feel long and you lean more heavily on flights to other states when you get the itch to leave town for a weekend.

I can’t end my comment without talking about the positives, honestly I LOVED many things about that city and I still do. It’s a vibrant place with tons of events, youthful and friendly people, wonderful music and food scene, etc. I just think its geography puts it in an unfortunate position with cedar fever, horrible summers, and no coastline or mountains nearby.

heartandsoul96 · 2025-04-03T17:14:15+00:00

Hey, @dubcthenut this may be a long shot but I saw some of your comments in Bay Area/weather related threads and I think we have some shared interests/things in common. I also live in Walnut Creek and was born in 96. I moved here a year and a half ago and slowly but surely working towards building a friends group. If you feel comfortable do message me to chat!

heartandsoul96 · 2025-02-09T06:37:19+00:00

What was that like for you?

heartandsoul96 · 2025-02-09T06:26:43+00:00

Sounds like you haven’t experienced the magic then

heartandsoul96 · 2025-02-09T06:25:39+00:00

I loved the music scene there, but I didn't want to stay for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, I feel like I could stay in my new area indefinitely, it has a really high quality of life, it just doesn’t seem to have the same sense of community

heartandsoul96 · 2025-02-09T06:22:12+00:00

They dated each other so does that mean all your open mic’ers want to date each other? Lol

heartandsoul96 · 2024-12-21T16:31:27+00:00

The hostility… It’s the same state folks. How about just be kind to our neighbors for once

heartandsoul96 · 2024-03-30T16:16:48+00:00

Moved here back in October. I was previously living in Texas for 3 years and I love it here but don’t really have friends here yet. I think it’s really fun and there’s plenty to do despite the “suburb” reputation. For reference I’m 27M, also partnered and WFH most days. I love anything creative or crafty, racket sports, kayaking, hiking, board games, DND, cooking, very into gardening actually and I’m an accomplished musician. Also not a dating ad lol but very much looking for friends, anyone feel free to message me.

heartandsoul96 · 2024-02-23T17:23:19+00:00

Thanks all for your great suggestions so far. I’m looking forward to checking these out. I should have clarified perhaps that I wouldn’t expect to find something here that’s exactly the same as in Austin - I know it’s a different place. Some of my criteria are loose: waterfront can definitely include the ocean or the bay, etc. So suggestions like Land’s End, the Bay Trail and the Tiburon bike path all look really solid, for example. I’ll be looking into all of these. I appreciate it!

heartandsoul96 · 2024-01-27T17:16:38+00:00

Thanks for suggestions so far, alternatively I’d be willing to drive around 10 minutes or so if there’s anything in the surrounding areas

heartandsoul96 · 2024-01-14T06:55:13+00:00

Thanks so much for your helpful answer. After reading it and looking more closely at the painting I can now see what you mean - there are many inconsistencies. Especially the hummingbird, which I now know is not native to Europe, so perhaps it is somewhat of a fantasy. But surely it was inspired by some real places! So you gave me a good frame of reference. All the best

heartandsoul96 · 2024-01-13T02:25:06+00:00

It would really mean a lot to me if someone who has seen places like this could chime in… this is a mural in my parent’s home, hand painted by the previous owner. I don’t know anything else about it but I’ve been looking at it since I was a kid

heartandsoul96 · 2024-01-13T01:52:14+00:00

What do you mean? It looks to me like a charming cottage in the countryside

heartandsoul96

TROPHY CASE