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The lifestyle isn't a lot of fun. You are away from home A LOT. You have no way to plan anything except on the few weeks of vacation you have. You do get to run the train and that is interesting, but stressful in its own right, especially after you become an Engineer. <br /> <br />A lot of us do get divorced due to job related stress. A lot of our kids grow up without enough time with their dad (or mom in some cases). I compensate by spending as much time with my kids as possible. I almost never drink alcohol at all as it can interfere with work. <br /> <br />The biggest thing I do is try to hold as much regular work as I can. I'm pretty lucky having joined the RR at a time when many older guys were retiring. I've been around long enough now so there are only 26 engineers older than me on our entire district. There are a number of locals that I can't hold regularly, but I can take a hold down on the job when the regular man is off. We don't have much in the way of yard work so that is not an option. Pools I can hold take me all over, but I can generally get a decent one that will get me home without too much hog law trouble. Still they are 6 days per week. It definitely beats the extra board though. <br /> <br />If you decide to hire out do so in a terminal that is large enough to offer you some options. I'd take LA over San Luis Obispo. Reason being, that as I recall the only jobs in SLO are crew changes(pools) and the helper jobs. Perhaps there is a local as well. In any event, I would expect the old timers will have the helpers locked up and possibly any locals as well leaving you on a pool or the Extra Board. LA seems to have more choices. Perhaps Oakland or Roseville is another option? <br /> <br />LC
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