u/philsadvns

Hello loyal soilers,

Im looking for a career in soil science or related field that would put a person in a job where they might spend some time outside with their hands in the dirt. My wife works part time and she just is sort of "meh" about her job. she wants to work more hours, but doesn't really love her job, and she wants to do something involving farming, soil, the outdoors....something. She grew up on a farm, loves animals and plants of all kinds, but doesn't want to work with animals or veterinarians because she loves animals too much to see them euthanized every day. She says he dream job is soil scientist, but the length of school needed is intimidating and really just more than she needs or wants to do at this point in her life (mid 30's). Is there a career that is soil science related or similar that she could get into with just farming experience etc, or maybe go back to a community college for an associates in something? would love to hear what soil people do for work that puts them in touch with the dirt but doesn't require a long education. She currently makes around $20/hr (min wage where I live is $15) so as long as it's not like back to the bottom of the ladder doing hard labor and milking cows or something pretty much any pay range is doable.

Hello everyone, as the title says I'm a 40 year old multiple felon living in the US and my highest level of education obtained is a GED. It's about the worst possible set of circumstances I could think of outside of maybe "massive brain injury" or something involving sex crimes. I got arrested back in 2023 for stealing to support my heroin habit and ended up in jail and then on drug court. Far from the first time I was arrested, my criminal record spans 37 pages (I recently got a copy of it from the state) 20ish misdemeanors and 2 felonies starting at age 26 and continuing until age 38. I'm not going to give any qualifying info or massaging of the facts.

Since completing drug court last year im not really into the idea of doing drugs and going to jail/prison anymore. Been there done that kind of thing. But while the rest of the world was getting degrees and jobs and buying boats I was nodding on couch and its pretty much too late to have any pipe dreams about landing some miracle job with a $50,000 a year salary. It's just not going to happen. Just for a little context I started college again last year, made the presidents list my first semester, and picked a field I thought might be achievable, only to get immediately shut down after getting accepted to the program at my school for X-ray techs. They only took 20 of 200 applicants and I was one of them, but the ARRT won't let me sit for the test due to my record.

That's where I'm at now, and I suddenly realized, all this stuff about "turn your life around, anyone can get a second chance" it might not be true. They preached a lot of that shit through drug court but I have yet to see the person offer me a chance. Currently I work for a gig work company, only one out of maybe 10 I applied even would accept me for that, and I just can't make it on what I earn from them. There has to be another way. I'm considering moving down south somewhere where I might be able to live outdoors in a tent year round to save money on mortgage/rent. I am 100% serious about this, I feel I have likely exhausted my chances at assimilating to society as a whole, and now I'm just looking for the exit.

Has anyone here or elsewhere identified a place or style of living that will allow me to live out my remaining years in peace without having to be constantly reminded of my status as a societal reject? How can I live the rest of my life peacefully without constant money/governmental/societal pressure to do better?

Edit: reading through this after posting I foresee a number of "just keep pushing, you're doing great!" or similar responses, and while I appreciate the sentiment, it's not what I'm looking for. I've been in "just keep pushing" mode for about 25 years now and I just don't have it in me anymore.