[USER]

Please let me know if I’m crazy for thinking this way. I have been working with computers for the last 20 years, and I’m in my early 40s.

I was laid off in mid-February from a company I had been with for over 15 years.

While the initial shock was significant, I’ve surprisingly become more comfortable with the situation.

Since my layoff, I’ve been selected for multiple positions and have had countless recruiters reaching out to me for my skill set.

In fact, I’ve already had three successful interviews in the last week and a half.

However, I find myself dreading the idea of returning to an office and doing any type of computer work.

This has led me to seriously consider a career change to become a mail carrier at the post office.

The thought of being outside and moving around all day is incredibly appealing to me.

I understand that the job can be physically demanding, but I have a history of doing hard physical work, and I believe that mail delivery would be less strenuous than what I’ve done in the past.

To provide some context, my current career pays around $120K to $140K annually. In contrast, starting as a mail carrier might bring in a little more than $50K with enough overtime.

However, I have approximately $500K saved across my retirement and brokerage accounts, plus more than a year’s worth of expenses in emergency funds.

My living expenses are under $50K a year, and I enjoy living a fairly minimalistic lifestyle.

I’m single with no kids, and I rent an apartment, which gives me the flexibility to downsize or upsize as needed.

So, I’m left wondering: would I be completely insane to give up my career in technology to deliver mail?

[Rachel]

I have friends who work for USPS and now isn’t the time to work there. Planning for layoffs.

[Rene’]

I don’t think you wanna start working for the government right now…

[Amethyst]

What are your expenses? If your expensed outstrip the 50k income, the answer is of course “no”.

As someone who’s worked over 20 different types of jobs across my lifetime, I think a lot of white collar folk romanticize blue color or minimum wage work.

Once you get into those lower paid positions and the honeymoon wears off, you might be surprised by how stressful the authoritarian structure is around you.

The work seems simple, but the deadlines ans expectations are not.

[Wilson]

Maybe UPS? They seem to make more. But definitely more strenuous with packages.

[Alan]

I would write a plan, do computer work for 3-5 more years to FIRE and then postal office. Significantly increase your savings in that time.

Based on the above you should be able to save up to 250k in a brokerage account. So, in FIRE you need $1,250,000 for your number.

Saving hard for a couple of years and then postal service and you should be fine.

Or say f it and do it anyway – no one gets out of this alive

[Emeline]

Maybe not USPS, but changing career sounds like something good to look at.

I am in that situation and I am looking into “coast-fi” working options

[Tracy]

I get the desire to do this. But no. You’ll be doing physically demanding manual labor in a position where people who are not your equal will be in charge of you.

All for a fraction of what you make right now. No.

[Ivy]

Chef of ten years turned mail carrier last year. It’s a hard job but I love it.

A common slogan is the best job you’ll ever hate

Ask me any questions if you like

[Jennifer]

Are these job offers for wfh? Maybe getting a walking pad to go under your desk to get some movement.

[Erica]

I think in this economy, you max out your income. $500k is not enough to get you through to retirement.

[Rebecca]

My brother is a mailman for 29 years. He said it’s very hard to work for stupid managers and they tend to have managers who have never done the job.

He has had a few injuries and is trying to gut thru the next 5-6 years.

They also usually make the new hires temp for a few years. It’s very poorly managed and he delivers 100 small packages per day plus the mail.

Benefits and retirement are good but he would not join today if he had the choice.

He said they have to scan at various checkpoints on his route and they are always pushing them to work faster even with excessive workloads.

I would rethink this to see if there are other less stressful options out there

[Elyzabeth]

my friend’s brother had a bad time working for the post office because they were mandated to work Sundays doing last mile delivery for packages for shipping companies.

the work life balance was really bad.

[Wilson]

You could try to work in your normal capacity and volunteer your time as a guide for some local parks or other outdoor spaces (botanical gardens etc)

[Sara]

I work for a software company (27+ years now) and I’ve had times of wanting to do ANYTHING that had me up moving around outside away from this desk.

My go to daydream was always a surveying job.

I understand how you feel. I’m still in software though.

[Gretchen]

Lots of outside job opportunities that could be entry level.
Honestly, if you live in Washington State, checkout the Ferry System.

Outside work, physical, and opportunities for advancement.

Railroad might have entry level jobs too, and I’d bet you could get a job on an organic farm as a laborer.

Road work needs flaggers, check that out too
My mailman is Financially Independent and gives his salary away every year. But he likes his job.

He’s also close to retiring and I haven’t talked with him since the last summer about the current environment.

My other friend who is a mail carrier absolutely hates it because her body doesn’t do the physical aspects so well, but she likes listening to podcasts and music all day

You could checkout getting your CDL as well, sometimes driving trucks can be good

Additionally, airlines and airports have entry level physical outside jobs (fueler, ramper, etc)

Just look around and see what’s out there.

Mailman could be great for you, but even if that doesn’t pan out, something else might be a good for you, even if it’s only a “gap” year to take a break.

[Ron]

Live your life. I was laid off from a $140K IT job at 51 in early 2014. After halfhearted attempts to find I job I looked at my retirement accounts, my lifestyle, figured it out and decided to stop looking.

The only work I did thereafter was about 2 years of uber, which I enjoyed immensely due to the social aspect.

I am also minimalistic in outlook and had less than your $500K in retirement accounts, though I had some cash from selling a house which I parleyed into a free and clear small house and money left over to support me for a few years.

Good luck. Follow your instincts. But make sure the USPS will hire you.

[Randee]

You need to do a little more research on what being a mail carrier really entails. For one thing, for years you are a contractor without benefits, picking up hours as designated to you.

You get the worst shifts and the worst hours, and NO hours are guaranteed, and neither is finally becoming career.

Plus, you want to work for the federal government NOW? This is insane on so many levels.

[Carolyn]

Are there any job postings available in your area to be a mail carrier? I think getting in is pretty competitive and also not really the best time to work for the government.

I think it’s great you want to do something else or take a break from working all together but idk if I would focus on just one thing.

[Lisa]

While I don’t know if mail carrier is the “right” option, if you feel strongly about avoiding computer work, then definitely honor your intuition.

Spend time digging into this more and your options for more physical jobs, or jobs you feel drawn to.

If you think you can manage with the significantly lower income, it may be worthwhile to take more time to think about what is best for you moving forward before making any quick decisions.

Good luck!

[Noa]

You could look for remote consulting roles in your field and work just enough to make $50k (20hrs a week?) and spend the rest of your time doing fun physical things you like.

Or do the mail delivery job.

I think you are in a strong enough position to try something different if that’s what speaks to you.

[Christopher]

You probably won’t “give up your career” in tech because your skills probably won’t rot that quickly.

I wouldn’t see this as irreversible career-wise (though I agree with sentiment above that usps isn’t a good career target at present).

I retired from tech about 6 years ago, and was also totally burnt out.

I can definitely understand the appeal to your overall plan; I spent a lot of time outside now too

Perhaps consider park-ranger type roles (also dicey at present, but maybe local/municipal roles won’t be as risky?) or other grounds-keeping type jobs?

Disaster cleanup stuff can also be rewarding (chainsawing trees after storms, clearing roadways etc after floods, etc).

[Author]

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