Anybody know...

[E.O.T.]

WELL

          Here in Portland, Oregon, we're busting at the seems with just about every trade. Looking at the job seeking ads daily, I see about 20 "seeking a mechanic" ads for every carpenter wanted, pretty much daily. My cousin in Chicago does trucks/ semi trucks and he's not only always working but makes great cash too. Millwright could be a potential more interesting field, with more diverse applications.

OR

          Get a Masters degree in just about any academic field and you can move here to make minimum wage working a cash register in a record store or something.

[Salty]

WELL

          Here in Portland, Oregon, we're busting at the seems with just about every trade. Looking at the job seeking ads daily, I see about 20 "seeking a mechanic" ads for every carpenter wanted, pretty much daily. My cousin in Chicago does trucks/ semi trucks and he's not only always working but makes great cash too. Millwright could be a potential more interesting field, with more diverse applications.

OR

          Get a Masters degree in just about any academic field and you can move here to make minimum wage working a cash register in a record store or something.

[Salty]

I spoke with an academic adviser and it seems my best bet is:

1. Get decent paying job.
2. Save enough rent for a year.
3. Enter associates program for diesel/heavy equipment.
4. After a year, get a job in the field while finishing up my last year.
5. Keep job, find fulfillment in "dying at the wheel", as per ghandi's good advice.
6. Work on B.S. in technology.
7. Technical Writer?

A millwright looks VERY interesting though.

[East Coast Hustle]

WELL

          Here in Portland, Oregon, we're busting at the seems with just about every trade.

you must be from a different Portland, Oregon. One which is not suffering from an estimated real unemployment rate of over 20%. Is it nice there? Is housing affordable? Are all of those employed people spending their disposable incomes in fancy restaurants that actually pay chefs a decent wage relative to their skillset?

Because if so, man, I am SO there.