My monitor (a Samsung ultrawide thing) has an option to reduce contrast (I think it’s called ‘eye saver mode’) that makes a massive difference. I don’t use for gaming but for work it’s made a massive difference to my comfort.
> McDonalds pays nearly $20 an hour these days, if it keeps the lights on, don't be above it.
I was between jobs several years ago and my startup failed - I ended up washing up at a restaurant to be able to continue feeding my family. At the time it was humiliating to be in my late 30s scrubbing pots and pans for the minimum wage but looking back it’s probably one of the periods of my life I’m most proud of: Putting pride aside to do what’s required to be a father and a provider.
> At the time it was humiliating to be in my late 30s scrubbing pots and pans for the minimum wage
I’m not sure if this is part of America’s “temporarily embarrassed millionaire” syndrome, but I don’t see anything wrong doing dishes for 8-12 hours straight to feed your family… unless this is actually the norm in thinking and maybe it’s just my poor blue collar upbringing?
I agree-there's nothing wrong with the means nor ends.
But, I'd bet that most people, after having failed a big endeavor that they put a lot of energy and time into, would feel at least some mixture of doubt/discouragement/disillusionment. Pile onto that resorting to less respected work (in a culture obsessed with money/power/prestige) and I can easily see how the parent commenter would feel some sort of humiliation during those times.
Nothing at all wrong with doing what is necessary to provide. Growing up we were poor... Lots of mac and cheese dinners. My parents were young, starting from nothing, and watching them struggle to build a little wealth was humbling.
From 15 to 19 I worked restaurant/shipment jobs, and carried a rifle in a warzone soon after that. Fast forward to present day - I sit at a desk and write software all day, getting paid well to do it. If I didn't have a job tomorrow you bet I'd be doing what it takes to provide. However, if I had to go back to the restaurant or shipment centers making 1/8th to 1/4 of what I do now you bet I'd be feeling pretty fucking pitiful about myself.
Do I look down on the work? Absolutely not. We do what we need to survive. IMO though, as a physically/mentally healthy person, the idea is using lower paying monotonous positions like washing dishes as a stepping stone for a more fulfilling and better paying career move.
Which country are you relocating to ? Certain ones such as France don’t allow ‘digital nomads’ - there are workarounds but it inevitably involves paying taxes and social charges. Working cross borders can also be difficult- I’m English but have French residency but cannot work for a non-French (and possibly Ireland) without getting a blue card or getting my EU citizenship back which was stripped from me against my will…
No, its specific visa category that a few EU countries have now, the most popular being Portugal's. You pay plenty of taxes to the host economy and are usually excluded from social welfare and healthcare.
Hm, been there, spilled a pint of Guinness (sorry Yvonne but why did you have to wear white trousers that day?) - don't try inline skating with two pints in an Irish pub with a cobblestone floor - but that did not seem to do the trick.
I can rent cars and vans from the supermarket 200m from me - the problem is the faff of waiting for a member of staff, the pre inspection, the post inspection, the cleaning, refuelling, the scanning of my drivers license, the payment of the deposit and fee - if it was as simple as turning up with my phone, scanning something and driving off I wouldn’t need a personal car and I doubt many would either.
