Quitting A Job

I have watched several videos about people who have recently quit their jobs. Apparently, they have more savings than I do, and I have a decent amount of savings. Several years ago, when I was younger and making significantly less money than I do now, I had to quit skating in order to live. I would never quit working to skate; I'm just not wired that way. Does my job make me sad? Yes, quite often. It’s stressful. I have quotas that usually result in my working on the weekend. I have rent to pay. Figure skating is expensive. Quit my job? How? Perhaps it’s because of my expensive tastes: food, shelter, clothing, alcohol, health insurance, Broadway, life sustaining medication … stuff like that. Or maybe it’s because I know what it’s like to lose a job. I’ve been laid off at least three times; it’s always a surprise because when a company talks about layoffs, you never think you’re going to be the one picked. When your company goes out of business, you’re going to be laid-off. That was my last layoff. So much fun. Maybe it’s because I’m older than the people who have been posting that they’re quitting. None of them are over 35 and I feel that is an important factor when making a decision. You can bounce from job to job when you’re in your 20s but once you turn 35, employers are going to question why you haven’t had steady employment. If you tell them you took time off to become an influencer and your potential employer is over 40, they may give you that look. You know that look; it says “really?” without saying anything at all. Don’t get me wrong, you should definitely follow your dream. However, do you really think being an influencer is going to be long-term employment? Remember when everyone wanted to be on a reality show? While those shows still exist, people aren’t lining up to participate. I can’t remember the last time I saw a cattle call for a reality show. How are these people paying their bills? Unless you are independently wealthy, you will run through your finances in a few years, especially if you continue skating. My freestyle sessions range from $20 - $33, depending on the rink. If you skate five days per week, two sessions per day, you are spending between $200 - $330 per week. Multiple that by 50 weeks per year (everyone needs a two week vacation) and you are spending between $10,000 - $16,500 annually. Think about it. It’s New Year’s Day. You are unemployed. You have paid $2000 monthly in rent, which equates to $24,000 annually. You have cable/cell phone/ internet at $150 monthly ($1,800 annual), food at $5,200, transportation (I’ll be using the NYC subway system rates here, your rates may vary) at $1,560 yearly. I’m leaving out health insurance because without a job, you can go on Medicaid where you won’t have to pay for anything (or very little). Forget nail appointments, haircuts, new clothes or shoes. I have left out electricity and heat. Add all of this up and you have $32,560. Now add ice time ($10,000 - $16,500) and coaches. Coach fees range from $50 - $200 depending on the coach and how many times per week you work with them. Let’s say you’re working with your coach twice a week. Adding that to the living subtotal and you have an approximate sum between $37,560 to $52,560. And that’s only if you work with one coach. That can wipe out someone’s savings in under two years. Perhaps their parents are helping them. I don’t have that luxury any more. Not that I would have asked them. I’m an adult. I do adulting things. One of those things is paying my own bills. I’m not going to the Olympics, I’m not even auditioning for an ice show. I’m an adult competitive figure skater, which 99% of the population would say is a nice hobby. Quit your job. Don’t quit your job. Do what you like. I can’t wrap my head around it, but it isn’t my story to explain. My story has a lot more to do with working on weekends, working out, trying to lose weight, going to the theatre and taking an off-ice class that literally kicked my butt. Do I wish I could quit my job and skate all morning? Heck yeah! Is it realistic in my world? Hell no. And that’s okay. Everyone’s story is different. Just enjoy the ride.

The $900 Experiment

I needed new skates. The skates I purchased back in 2016 had been a problem from day one. There is a very good chance that I was not fitted correctly. One person said I was “over-booted”. Who knows what the issue was. All I know is that those skates never fit correctly. My feet cramped, throbbed and caused my arches to go numb. It was a mess. I thought that once they started to break down a bit, they would finally be comfortable, or at least tolerable. But no. They never felt good. Suddenly they were big and my foot would slide around in them. There was no happy medium. My favorite skates were my Klingbeils. Loved those skates. Actually, I still have them; I haven’t been able to toss them with the hopes that if necessary I could have them rebuilt. I have never found anyone who could rebuild my skates. I was able to purchase another pair of Klingbeils. As it happened, I know someone who has purchased some of the stock that wasn’t picked up. After going back and forth, I purchased a pair of boots, initially for someone named Melissa. Melissa and I had similar feet, sort of. Same size… almost. Hers were a bit narrower; a purchased shoe stretcher helped with that. Those stretchers are in those skates every day in an attempt to make those skates fit. I even had them stretched by a skate shop. For those who didn’t know, stretching skates longer make them narrower. Ater every session, I would take the skates off and wait approximately an hour before the pain in my feet subsided. I thought I had neuropathy or stress fractures in my feet because of the pain. Walking to the subway became an exercise in determination but I knew eventually, the skates would fit well. Five months later, they still don’t fit right. I should also mention that I purchased a new pair of blades that were a totally different brand from the Pattern 99s I have been using for over ten years. These new blades are good, very similar and yet different. It’s taken a bit but I have gotten used to them… sort of. The new skates are a half size smaller. Maybe that’s the problem. The new blades are a size 9 ¾; my old blades were 10 ¼. Perhaps that’s why I feel as though there should be more blade in the back. I like the blades, but haven’t felt 100% comfortable in them mostly because I can’t feel my feet. Well, five months later, I’ve given up. I’ve made an appointment to buy new boots, hopefully the blades I have will still work otherwise it’s new blades too. The pair I am currently in were $900 total before tax and I’m willing to pay that again to not lose the ability to use my feet. My last pair of custom Klingbeils, purchased when Mr. Klingbeil was still with us, were the last pair of comfortable skates that I owned. Although the company that took over the business is out there, but $1800 for a pair of boot is a bit too expensive. I learned my lesson. Sometimes it doesn’t pay to try to find the least expensive option. Sometimes your arches, toes, and nerve endings refuse to allow it. And I understand now.