Sink or Swim: Careerless on the Cape
Welcome to vacation land, you have arrived! The moment you are over the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges, you just feel like you are somewhere amazing and special. And you don't want to leave. Many don't. The "year rounders" are either native Cape Codders, vacationers turned residents, or retirees. (This doesn't include those lucky you-know-whats that have 2nd/3rd homes here. They're in their own "category".) No one can deny the Cape's adorable quaint, small town cozy feel. Repeat vacationers look forward to seeing the old Land-Ho signs, a visit to the Chatham candy shop, and can't wait to walk thru the door of their un-upgraded salty rental cottages. This is New England's earthy version of the Hamptons. It's what summer is all about. But summer is only 4 1/2 months. So.... what about the other 7 1/2?? What happens then?
"But what do you do? I mean how do you survive?" I have asked several acquaintances, strangers, myself. How do you make this work financially? The cost of living is high. Houses are more than double, groceries are more, taxes are higher. And salaries are significantly lower with not a lot of benefits. Forget saving or contributing to your 401K. Doesn't exist here. This is the give and take when you go all in coastal living. You embrace it, make it work, or leave.
If you are lucky enough to be in the medical field, own your own successful year-round business or are handy in construction, you'll be fine. No second job will be necessary for you. However all other trades and professions are a gamble. Even teachers and fire fighters turn to moonlighting or weekend small jobs to make extra money. This isn't a Monday - Friday 8-5:00 job place. Oh no. You must suffer a little to live where many dream of living.
It took a couple months, but after being slapped with the reality that graphic design work is nonexistent here, I realized I needed to get a grip. Finding a comparable career wasn't going to happen. I needed to change my thought process: stop looking for a new career, and just get a job. Any job. There really wasn't any other choice. You don't have a career on the Cape. Be happy to find a job you might enjoy and check the box.
1 job isn't enough, you'll need a couple to come close to the amount you were used to making. A gentleman I spoke with about the frustration of trying to support yourself on the cape actually works 4 jobs. Ugh. That sucks! But that is what he must do to pay his Cape-expensive rent and survive. Frustrating. I mean come on, Cape Cod. Shouldn't there be a local kick-back to those of us that are living here all the 12 months of the year? Some bonus for us loyal residents helping this economy in the off-months so it's still a hot spot in the summer months? I mean without these hardworking, determined locals, the cape would dissolve. But until that magical concept happens, the compromise must be job-juggling. You get a job, or two, maybe even three, if you can swing it, stretching your schedule. I've given in to the "Cape Way" (really no choice) and embraced that my new career is jobbies (combo job & hobby, haha, do you like it?) Which I'm becoming convinced, doesn't have to be a horrible thing. What I don't like in my one job, I like in the other. And vice/versa. I went from having 0 jobs, to now being offered 4. Quite the strange predicament and happy revelation. Beach living and casual coastal lounging isn't as easy as it sounds. Damn!
So these are the sacrifices to living here. Plain and simple. (Consider yourself told so don't act surprised if you take the plunge and move here.) Now you know. If you can get a job ahead of time, hats off to you! If not, be ready to dig deep into your vault of skills and see what you dig up.
But let me tell you, the gorgeous sunsets and easy beach living, well, it's kind of worth juggling a couple fun, stress-free jobs. Honestly. But you'll need to be the judge.
"But what do you do? I mean how do you survive?" I have asked several acquaintances, strangers, myself. How do you make this work financially? The cost of living is high. Houses are more than double, groceries are more, taxes are higher. And salaries are significantly lower with not a lot of benefits. Forget saving or contributing to your 401K. Doesn't exist here. This is the give and take when you go all in coastal living. You embrace it, make it work, or leave.
If you are lucky enough to be in the medical field, own your own successful year-round business or are handy in construction, you'll be fine. No second job will be necessary for you. However all other trades and professions are a gamble. Even teachers and fire fighters turn to moonlighting or weekend small jobs to make extra money. This isn't a Monday - Friday 8-5:00 job place. Oh no. You must suffer a little to live where many dream of living.
It took a couple months, but after being slapped with the reality that graphic design work is nonexistent here, I realized I needed to get a grip. Finding a comparable career wasn't going to happen. I needed to change my thought process: stop looking for a new career, and just get a job. Any job. There really wasn't any other choice. You don't have a career on the Cape. Be happy to find a job you might enjoy and check the box.
1 job isn't enough, you'll need a couple to come close to the amount you were used to making. A gentleman I spoke with about the frustration of trying to support yourself on the cape actually works 4 jobs. Ugh. That sucks! But that is what he must do to pay his Cape-expensive rent and survive. Frustrating. I mean come on, Cape Cod. Shouldn't there be a local kick-back to those of us that are living here all the 12 months of the year? Some bonus for us loyal residents helping this economy in the off-months so it's still a hot spot in the summer months? I mean without these hardworking, determined locals, the cape would dissolve. But until that magical concept happens, the compromise must be job-juggling. You get a job, or two, maybe even three, if you can swing it, stretching your schedule. I've given in to the "Cape Way" (really no choice) and embraced that my new career is jobbies (combo job & hobby, haha, do you like it?) Which I'm becoming convinced, doesn't have to be a horrible thing. What I don't like in my one job, I like in the other. And vice/versa. I went from having 0 jobs, to now being offered 4. Quite the strange predicament and happy revelation. Beach living and casual coastal lounging isn't as easy as it sounds. Damn!
So these are the sacrifices to living here. Plain and simple. (Consider yourself told so don't act surprised if you take the plunge and move here.) Now you know. If you can get a job ahead of time, hats off to you! If not, be ready to dig deep into your vault of skills and see what you dig up.
But let me tell you, the gorgeous sunsets and easy beach living, well, it's kind of worth juggling a couple fun, stress-free jobs. Honestly. But you'll need to be the judge.
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