The problem I am trying to solve here is monotony. I've been working for 9 years now, and I'm not excited with the notion of my job 35 years from now. I have a desk job and sit for 10 hours every day blurring my eyes and clicking my mouse. I want to get outside.
At the same time I know there is a physical laborer who is on his feet 10 hours a day - digging ditches, pouring concrete, roofing houses. He just wants to sit and be warm (or cool in the summer) every once a while.
The solution: Job sharing. My current computer position would be filled by 2 people. I'll work Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, and a ‘craftsman’ will work my job Wednesday and Thursday. In turn, I’ll work at his job laying bricks on Wednesday and Thursday.
I think it just makes sense. I want to get outside and work with my hands sometimes, but I don't want to do it full time. And I'm sure there are carpenters out there who would like to sharpen up on their computer skills and come in from the cold once in a while.
And I know not everyone wants to lay bricks, but surely everyone wants to do something else. It’s like taking your hobby one step further, and making it your part time job. If you work in a hair salon, but also like gardening, job-share with a gardener who likes cutting hair. If you’re an accountant who likes to cook, job-share with a chef who likes numbers.
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The trouble being, what if each of you go into a project with a different view on how it would be accomplished.
The idea of someone who sits in front of a computer all day doing some manual labor a few hours a week makes a lot of sense. But I suspect most people who do manual labor full-time don't have the aptitude to do a geek job part-time. I have a geek job. Periodically I have a chance to do manual labor for a few days at a time, such as setting up testbeds (hardware), and I appreciate the change of pace.
I can see the motivation, but it's more profitable when people can specialize in a particular task.
I work full time, sometimes in excess of 40 hours a week doing computer technical support with a state agency in a large southeastern state. I also work weekends (16+ hours)unloading trucks and pulling large pallets at the back of a big box department store. The contrast is 180 degrees the other direction from the main job. I get paid for a workout that some of my tech buddies pay to have at the health club.I truly recommend this as a way to keep from being bored with the desk job.
Geesh maxerd, work to live, don't live to work!
I've worked as a computer consultant in the past. If one were willing to be self-employed one could easily do (manual) side jobs on Tuesdays and Thursdays and computer work M-W-F. You just need 2 skills; one manual, one technical/office.
pmillar, I too used to long for manual work. I don't feel that was as much anymore. I changed my job to one that was less stressful and started riding a bicycle to work. You should try riding to work, also. It might satisfy your need.
anything's possible. set up a job sharing website.