Toronto...or why I love the view from my office.

North Shore · Post by **North Shore** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:44 am

I was thinking of posting this in the Perimeter Salary thread that is going on right now, but it doesn't quite fit, so...

I'm in YYZ right now, staying at a friend's place prior to running the 1/2 Marathon this weekend. I've never been here before, so I decided to do the tourist thing, and went up the CN Tower. TTC streetcar along Queen St., walk down Bay to Front, and then along to the Tower, elevator up to the top.

WHAT A VIEW!!...of city and houses..as far as you can see... in 3 out of 4 directions. Back on Bay St., all of the suits are rushing along, trying to get back to their veal-fattening pens on time, or cramming into the subway, commuting back to the suburbs somewhere, or climbing into their cars so that they can crawl along the Gardiner at bicycle speed .... you get the picture.

I do ok financially - I'll never be rich flying an aeroplane, and I probably wont make what some of those Bay St. banker types do, but F**K ME, what a miserable existence.

Two years ago, it was bears running around on a lakeshore as we worked a fire nearby. This year, it was a cow and calf moose swimming across a lake. Loons paddling around in the little bay near our dock. Stopping at a small lake in the middle of nowhere to have a swim because it was a hot day, and I felt like it, and had some time to spare. Waterskiing every night for a week, because the ski dock was a 5 minute bike ride from my house. Landing in Tofino and walking out to Long Beach ... the memories of what my career has given me so far go on and on...

It's not all roses, and different strokes for different folks, I have to admit, but even in my down moments, I remember the sheer bloody magic of looking down at the runway as it sinks away below the wings of a plane that I'm flying.

Thank God I don't work in an office.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:48 am

One of my instructors once said:

"I've got the best job in the world. My office has lights, cool buttons, nice windows, and the scenery changes for me, what more could you want?"

Go Guns · Post by **Go Guns** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:02 am

Amen brother....

bater · Post by **bater** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:10 am

Well said NorthShore... I cringe everytime I have to visit the hell-hole known as the GTA.

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:17 am

Sudbury has everything the GTA has, just a bit smaller scale. OK so maybe you can't get Ethiopian or Armenian food. Who the @#$! eats that shit anyways?

The only thing I need is a job, food, clothing, shelter, beer and high speed internet access, and I'm fine.

-istp

Swamp Donkey · Post by **Swamp Donkey** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:24 am

Well said North Shore....

Whenever I'm in traffic on the way to the airport, I always think that most of those poor bastards are going to a cubicle for the day....

Then I feel much better....

sky's the limit · Post by **sky's the limit** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:35 am

North Shore,

As a fellow Victorian, and former TO resident, I agree.

I just spent the last six weeks camped between two glaciers, two Griz and some Moutnain Goats roaming around nearby, and flying in some of the most spectular country around(when I could see it....).

And making a pretty good wage to boot.

STL

alpha1 · Post by **alpha1** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:45 am

im sure ill get crapped on for this, but here goes.....

there are plenty of "suits" in downtown T.O. who love their jobs, who are extremely happy, who love the view from their offices, who see their families every night, and who make more in a month than most pilots earn in year.

this whole "im paid shit but at least i love my flying job" is nonsense. That's really just rationalizing the totally screwed up salary system in aviation. It might give pilots some sort of psychological comfort to think that everyone else who is well-compensated financially is somehow miserable, but that's a false comfort, because that's not the way it is.

gr8gazu · Post by **gr8gazu** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:28 pm

Why would you get crapped on alpha?

There are a lot of very happy people working a 9-5 gig making a lot more than 90% of us pilots.

Entry level IT guys and almost every construction trade make more than pilots these days. Don't get me wrong, I am glad it is what I do.

BTW, the GTA isn't such a bad place to live, and I am a West Coaster!

TerrainTerrain · Post by **TerrainTerrain** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 1:11 pm

istp wrote:Sudbury has everything the GTA has, just a bit smaller scale. OK so maybe you can't get Ethiopian or Armenian food. Who the @#$! eats that shit anyways?

The only thing I need is a job, food, clothing, shelter, beer and high speed internet access, and I'm fine.

-istp

My distaste of the GTA has Sudbury running a close second, and Hamilton taking the bronze.

To each is own I guess.

Nightflight · Post by **Nightflight** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 4:16 pm

alpha1 wrote:there are plenty of "suits" in downtown T.O. who love their jobs, who are extremely happy, who love the view from their offices, who see their families every night, and who make more in a month than most pilots earn in year.

You are absolutely right. I know a couple who do really well and love their jobs and have absolutely no desire to be a pilot. They wouldn't trade for anything flying related. It's all about different strokes for different folks!

I also agree that we pilots can be accused of building up the experience to justify the misery that we have to put ourselves to get anywhere. I was an instructor for 5 years and let me tell you that at the end of it the inside of a 150 might as well have been a cubicle. At least the cubicle would have had me eating a normal meal instead of KD to survive. I hated it, but did not let this affect the quality of my instruction. Nothing against instructing just wasn't my particular cup of tea after so many years. I know some career instructors that love it and hate the airline thing. Like I said, "diferrent strokes for......."
Happy flying!

yak driver · Post by **yak driver** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:36 am

North Shore, check PM's

El Comat · Post by **El Comat** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 10:20 am

TerrainTerrain wrote:
istp wrote:Sudbury has everything the GTA has, just a bit smaller scale. OK so maybe you can't get Ethiopian or Armenian food. Who the @#$! eats that shit anyways?

The only thing I need is a job, food, clothing, shelter, beer and high speed internet access, and I'm fine.

-istp
My distaste of the GTA has Sudbury running a close second, and Hamilton taking the bronze.

To each is own I guess.

Hey now what's wrong with Sudbury??? Ya that trees are a little small, but that's a price we paid for being the mining capitol of the world (and the trees are actually growing back now). It's the perfect mix of a good size city with tons of lakes within a 20 minute drive (my camp was 20 minutes from my house, regardless of traffic, cuz there was hardly ever any!).

I know, I know.....you're entitled to your opinion, but I thought I'd stick up for my hometown

. Actually, Thunder Bay reminds me a lot of Sudbury, except they splurged and bought the full-size trees

.

Swamp Donkey · Post by **Swamp Donkey** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 11:00 am

alpha1 wrote:"im paid shit but at least i love my flying job"

I don't get paid shit....

I do very well, thank you!

North Shore · Post by **North Shore** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:55 pm

Alph,

Perhaps they(the suits) are happy, perhaps not ... I suspect that like everyone else, some days are good, some not. I don't believe that I said, or implied, that, though.... I was just trying to convey that I'm glad that I don't live in a megalopolis, and don't work in an office - and comparing what I see as the fringe benefits of my job.

As for salary, it pays my mortgage, puts food on the table, and buys toys, with a bit left over each month - that's all I really need.

Airtids · Post by **Airtids** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:30 pm

You forgot to mention RESP, or are you planning on having the little one join you in your career?

Good luck with the run, and I'm with you 100%... on the job thing, the run, you're on your own!!

alpha1 · Post by **alpha1** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:52 pm

north shore,

i think we're on the same page, it truly is what ever makes u happy; didnt mean to mis-characterize your comments.

North Shore · Post by **North Shore** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 1:46 pm

Tids,

Well, I'm sizing him up for child labour in the coal mines, but he's a little short yet! And every time an aeroplane flies overhead, I make sure that I pinch him really hard - that should cure the aviation sickness!

RESP?!??! Damn, there goes my ski season! - Kidding, we've got that covered, too - thank God for women's lib

As for the run, 1:28:47. Thanks.

A.[/i]

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 1:54 pm

TerrainTerrain wrote:
istp wrote:Sudbury has everything the GTA has, just a bit smaller scale. OK so maybe you can't get Ethiopian or Armenian food. Who the @#$! eats that shit anyways?

The only thing I need is a job, food, clothing, shelter, beer and high speed internet access, and I'm fine.

-istp
My distaste of the GTA has Sudbury running a close second, and Hamilton taking the bronze.

To each is own I guess.

WTF? You come to town, I'll get ya drunk and we'll go fishing on the Vermillion. THEN bash the Capitol of the North! (Northern Ontario, anyways)

-istp

TerrainTerrain · Post by **TerrainTerrain** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:45 pm

Get me drunk? OK, I'm so there.

Nark · Post by **Nark** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:17 pm

Northy:
Good to hear your still doing alright for yourself. I'm with you on the whole office gig thing. Not happening.

Also happy to see you have a good run time. I'll give you a nice haircut and some new cammies and you could join me in the Marine Corps. Haha.

Cheers

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 12:41 am

The view from my office:

Happy Landings.

CJ

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 12:51 am

Here I love this one as well:

Springbok 3 · Post by **Springbok 3** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:43 am

When I look out my office window:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/ ... ffice3.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/ ... ffice2.jpg