addicted to the passion
 

I am not sure how to name this thread, but it is job related. I have a more than a decent job that lets me pay for flight training. I am very happy to have that job, especially in such an economy. However, I am addicted to flying and aviation. The thing is, when I sit in front of a computer I cannot help looking up stuff related to aviation or reading an aviation magazine, and again constantly looking up stuff about aviation and just reading. This is all I do at work. My job is one of those jobs where you get a lot of down time (3 hours you really work, the rest you chill). So here is my problem. Recently, I started noticing some of my co-workers and my boss when walking through my cube they do a weird gesture or a hand signal at the computer. Sometimes they come close and wants to see what I am doing. They see something aviation related and puts a disappointing look. Today I felt like saying "why don't you mind your business, I never come and snoop around what you do." I got very defensive inside, because it's my passion, and I cannot stand it when people belittle me about it. I mean who knows if they talking about me "ah that guy is crazy, he is too much into aviation, he doesn't care about his job" etc. Truth be told, I like the job okay, I am not crazy for it. I look at it as a venue for flight training. I am free when I have enough hours, I need the job for training. No job, no flying. You understand my point. It might be bad habit to constantly look stuff up, when I should lay low and just stay cool. But I get really annoyed at these people. I mean, there are days when I could literally bring in books and study, but I don't. Are they jealous because someday I might do something far cooler than what they do. I feel like wanting to make it as a pilot is such a cool thing that it surpasses what some of my co-workers wants to do for a career. Again I wonder, is it jealousy? It's driving me nuts, I am just annoyed at them. But I cannot let these people stop me from something that I loved ever since I was a kid. I am addicted to aviation like most of us here are, but I just feel lost to spend time on checking e-mails for the gazzilionth time or playing solitaire (which is considered to be acceptable behavior) Sorry about the long rant....I just cannot believe this, it is kind of outrageous..ah I will stop.

Put a copy of flight sim on your computer, play it. When your co-workers come by, have them try. Then place bets on who can thread the LR45 under the golden gate bridge. (This is generally the time to insert several beers into the equation). Then once they see it is fun, it becomes the 'thing to do' on Friday, beer and.... inverted ILS approaches in the 73 or really crappy split-s's with Jan the receptionist... you get my drift.

PearlPilot:

I understand exactly what you mean; although I would caution you to be careful with what's on your screen when the boss or a supervisor walks by. It's just respect for the job and their position. Remember, they have to answer to someone as well.

As far as aviation being a passion....

I collected used airline tickets as a youngster - (Eastern, Delta, National, and Mackey Airlines)
had every toy airplane you can image
Civil Air Patrol
ERAU
Worked the ramp for Delta & Comair
Worked in Arpt Mgmt & Ops
active member of OBAP
Attend Car & Jet static display shows (KBCT & KFXE)
Read and inwardly digest Airliner and Plane & Pilot magazine articles
APC.info, Jetcareers.com and obap.org (Forums & Discussion boards)
....and oh yeah.....MS Flight SimX... 737-8; RJ7; BE-58; Lear 45
started my initial flight training

and you know what..............I LOVE IT!!!!



atp

Thank you guys really appreciate it. I felt sad because it seemed like they had no care for something that I really love. You were 100% correct in saying that my boss has to answer to his boss and people of importance walks by my cube. For me the contents of the gig are really dull and boring, and it is through aviation that I get through the day. I am fresh out of college and I am just beginning to understand the real world and how cruel people can really be. I am beginning to understand that the world is not as nice as I want it to be. People are not as nice as I assume them to be. It is a tough road, but we all have to make sacrifices. All for love right? Yikes.

the great thing is that when you do get a flying gig and have loads of down time, aviation forums, websites, magazines and books are 100% acceptable! we even had flightsim in the office to help "keep current." i have no idea how landing a 747 at st maarten or flying a cub in 50kt winds kept a bunch of aerial survey pilots current, but it wasted a lot of hours!

Addiction
 

Aviation is highly addictive and can ruin your life if you let it. Develop some some restraint and learn to contain your passion. Use it as motivation to apply yourself at work so that you can get more time and money to fly on your days off. Set a goal like buying your own plane and use your job as the avenue to get there.

Skyhigh

Thanks Skyhigh. I better start to behave otherwise I might lose everything. Not a good thing to happen in this economy. I love flying too much. I got to get through the day by confirming to acceptable ways to spend the day.

"Aviation is highly addictive and can ruin your life if you let it"

So true!

p.s. I am off today so I not on APC at work :)