When I was a kid I always liked going on Scout camps. I think what I liked specifically was:
- It meant spending an extended period of time (whole days, with little break) in the same collective of 20+ people.
- I would drift between the various groups there, and would get to know everyone.
- The collective would experience new situations every few hours, or even just being bored together when ‘nothing’ was happening (when waiting for stuff etc.).
- (Possibly also the fact that there was an authority above us and we didn’t decide things for ourselves…?)
What I liked was how there was a strong feeling of community because we were all experiencing the same thing together. Being around people meant my mind was continuously in the present. For these reasons I feel that this is the environment I thrive in the most.
Unfortunately this would only ever happen once or twice a year, and since I am 20 I wanted to ask if anyone can think of any job descriptions where this happens.
The first thing I thought of is working on a submarine but I was hoping for something a bit less radical. I thought this might be the experience in university dorms but it turns out that in my country dorms are pretty dead because with the exception of cooking, people stay in their rooms.
You could start as a ranch hand, especially if you know how to ride. You can work on both a regular ranch or on a “resort ranch” that focuses on tourism. You just have to find a ranch that has around that 20ish employees.
But then it would fit all of your points. You are spending your whole day with the same group of people.
Drifting between groups will depend a bit on your exact duties but no matter what you are going to get to know everyone and work with others occasionally.
New things are constantly coming up to do. Your duties also change with the season. And even if there is “nothing” to do you will still hang out with the other farm hands.
You have that authority over you in form of the ranch manager/owner.
Pay isn’t great but it might come with free lodging, then it isn’t that bad.
This comment reminded me of the Francis arc in Malcolm in the Middle. He starts out at a conservative military prep school, hates it, drops out to go work as a logger in Alaska, hates it, and eventually ends up as a resort ranch hand in the southwest and realizes it’s his true calling.
I can’t ride but I love the original idea!