Any laid back DZ where I can camp, work, and jump occasionally?

[Carter Blunt 0]

When I left the sport 5+ years ago, I had gotten my B license and senior riggers, but I am no longer current, and money is an issue. I was told by the dropzone owner that I was a squatter, and not a real skydiver, because I only did 2 jumps a week. That discouraged me a lot, and I never ended up looking for another DZ after being asked to leave. I was there about 6 months, completing 47 skydives. I was never able to get work there as a packer, probably because they assumed I was lazy or didn't care enough, but the fact is I have ADD. Skydiving/rigging was the only area where my ADD wouldn't be an issue, as I find it interesting and worthwhile, and could always challenge myself to improve. At this point, I'm completely bored in life, just doing the same things every day. I did work in Hawaii for a month, but I didn't really fit in there, and I was the sole packer on the DZ despite making it clear I was new. Supposedly, there was gonna be another rigger there the first 2 weeks, but there wasn't. Eventually, I got fired for having a heated argument with a TI, who had doubts about my experience. In my opinion, he didn't know much about rigging, and wasn't open to hearing what I had to say. Being that the management class seems to treat me differently, I've lost that sense of family. Is there a DZ where I would be accepted as a "real" skydiver, or am I just not? I'm so bored and frustrated with the way my life is going now, but I don't see a way out.

Edited September 21, 2023 by Carter Blunt

[jakebaustin 9]

Bay area skydiving has a bunkhouse bathroom and kitchen like area and will hire pretty much anyone at least once or twice. Same with Lodi. 
 

good luck! 

[Deisel 35]

2 hours ago, Carter Blunt said:

 I'm so bored and frustrated with the way my life is going now, but I don't see a way out.

Hey buddy - that looks to me like you're asking for help. And since it's here on a message board, I'll respond here as well. If you need someone to talk to you can PM me for my number anytime. Or I can help you find somebody else if you like. There's always an answer out there somewhere.

BTW - I just went through having a jumper make a very permanent and stupid decision that the rest of us have to live with. Please don't do that to anyone you care about. 

[Carter Blunt 0]

On 9/21/2023 at 3:35 PM, Deisel said:

BTW - I just went through having a jumper make a very permanent and stupid decision that the rest of us have to live with. Please don't do that to anyone you care about. 

Sorry to hear that, but that's not really what I meant. I've come up with some pretty drastic ideas, like getting myself thrown in jail so I can get my teeth fixed, but I'm sure that would do more harm than good. I just feel trapped here, working for my mom who I'm not close with, for no pay... and I feel like I've already watched all the best movies, played all the best videogames, listened to all the best music... that there's nothing to look forward to, no point in what I'm doing currently, no one worth sharing experiences with, etc. Still, I'm not so desperate that I need to end myself, and would never do it in the sport, or in front of people who care about me. But this VERSION of my life, it's time to leave.

I made an appointment with ss disability to try and get medication for my ADD, but I have no clue if they will help. I think I would even be able to handle a normie job if I abuse ritalin, but that's obviously not ideal, and there's a reason why I chose this for my career. I just feel like most people in the industry view it differently than me, not really loving the job or the community, and at closing time they're ready to rush out of there. I don't really understand those people. I hope I can find a place where people are more chill, maybe more passionate about the sport, I'm not sure. I was hoping it would be like that in Hawaii, but it was the opposite.

[JoeWeber 2,299]

1 hour ago, Carter Blunt said:

Sorry to hear that, but that's not really what I meant. I've come up with some pretty drastic ideas, like getting myself thrown in jail so I can get my teeth fixed, but I'm sure that would do more harm than good. I just feel trapped here, working for my mom who I'm not close with, for no pay... and I feel like I've already watched all the best movies, played all the best videogames, listened to all the best music... that there's nothing to look forward to, no point in what I'm doing currently, no one worth sharing experiences with, etc. Still, I'm not so desperate that I need to end myself, and would never do it in the sport, or in front of people who care about me. But this VERSION of my life, it's time to leave.

I made an appointment with ss disability to try and get medication for my ADD, but I have no clue if they will help. I think I would even be able to handle a normie job if I abuse ritalin, but that's obviously not ideal, and there's a reason why I chose this for my career. I just feel like most people in the industry view it differently than me, not really loving the job or the community, and at closing time they're ready to rush out of there. I don't really understand those people. I hope I can find a place where people are more chill, maybe more passionate about the sport, I'm not sure. I was hoping it would be like that in Hawaii, but it was the opposite.

Carter,

You are asking for help. Diesel reached out and made an incredibly generous offer to help you find that help. Take him up on it.

[Carter Blunt 0]

I appreciate the offer and everything, but I'm not trying to make anyone my personal crisis hotline. I'm not even sure what to do with an offer like that, and I don't like taking up people's time when they have better things to do. That's probably why I can't relate to industry people, no idea what it's like to be a busy person.

[wmw999 2,122]

The thing is, exactly what you’re looking for may not exist, but something close might, that takes adjustment on both sides. Diesel is relatively well-traveled if I remember rightly, and may be able to advise as to how to approach various dropzones that might need work.

There are very few perfect jobs; looking for one is generally very frustrating, and business owners want someone to fill their needs, not the other way around . Some of them might be perfect — i jump at a seasonal DZ now, so I know it’s not ideal, and I don’t know the personalities you’d be dealing with where I used to jump; it’s been too long since I jumped there. His information is probably more current

Wendy P. 

[Carter Blunt 0]

I'm probably going about this in the wrong way, most dropzones were starting to require a rigger's ticket to even pack there. I would probably need to work under another rigger for a while, get my skills back to where they were, and get another DPRE examination. I kinda screwed myself not staying current, but I guess it happens. I'll try to find somewhere to practice again. Thanks for the kind responses.

[temporary17 5]

On 9/21/2023 at 10:07 AM, Carter Blunt said:

(help)

You wrote a post asking for help. Deisel made you a very compassionate offer. I, too, suggest you take him up on it.

In the meantime, I suggest that you NOT look for a job packing tandems or student rigs for a DZ's school. You seem unsure enough about your own life that I don't think you should be in a position where TI's or the general public should be entrusting their lives to you. I would hope that you wouldn't do anything intentional, but your frustration and unsurety might affect your level of care and attention to detail. Especially if you're prone to arguing with your employers. And I would much rather my rigger/packer have OCD than ADD.

[wmw999 2,122]

Well, I’d say a whole lot of jumpers have ADD, as well as ADHD. I think the adrenaline might help with focus

Wendy P. 

[Carter Blunt 0]

16 hours ago, temporary17 said:

And I would much rather my rigger/packer have OCD than ADD.

I think I have both. ADD seems more like a tunnel focus than a lack of focus... could be it goes hand-in-hand with OCD. I learned to suppress it in certain areas, but not all. I might also have some anxiety or PTSD that I suppress into a milder form, and some sort of attachment disorder... but that's all way beyond my ability to self-diagnose.

I got in an argument because he was essentially asking me to make a rig that had issues even less safe. Specifically, the bottom flap was missing a magnet, and they wanted me to switch the closing loop with one that didn't fit the rig properly. I should've grounded it honestly, but they wouldn't have liked that either. I tried to explain that the loop was only 10% wear, and there was nothing abnormal about being able to see between the strands, but he would dismissively walk away and shut the door in my face.

[Carter Blunt 0]

Honestly, I don't even give a fuck anymore. I'm done biting my tongue and begging to be accepted. All those narcissist assholes talking shit behind my back, who knows how far the gossip spreads in this industry. I'm a squatter, too damn bad. I get in arguments with my "betters" and call them names, shit happens. I'm barely a skydiver, barely a packer. Fuck it. I am what I am. No worries, I already blew my savings. Moving on.