u/TerribleTopic999

So to begin I have been trying to get into the pipefitters union here for a few years while I was working non union construction but they hadn’t brought in any apprentices in a long time so I joined the ironworkers union here in the meantime in case I don’t get into the fitters-this year I finally got to take the aptitude test, interviewed and got a letter saying I was accepted into the UA they compiled a list of all the people interviewed in the last 2 years and I placed 27

This is my dilemma- I’m now a 2nd year ironworkers apprentice in a 4 year apprenticeship, I make really good money but I still want to be a pipe fitter
If the UA hall finally calls me I’ll take a huge pay cut and have to literally scrape by for my first 3 years not really getting to build onto my savings or anything else until I get to a good pay rate but have everything I want in the long run 3-5 years from when I would start, i really don’t know what to do I know what I want but I’m really dreading being that broke and behind for years before I get back to where I am now which isn’t even close to what either Journeyman makes

Do I just suck it up and drown my first few years? Has anyone else had this experience?

So to begin I have been trying to get into the pipefitters union here for a few years while I was working non union construction but they hadn’t brought in any apprentices in a long time so I joined the ironworkers union here in the meantime in case I don’t get into the fitters-this year I finally got to take the aptitude test, interviewed and got a letter saying I was accepted they compiled a list of all the people interviewed in the last 2 years and I placed 27

This is my dilemma- I’m now a 2nd year ironworkers apprentice in a 4 year apprenticeship, I make really good money but I still want to be a pipe fitter
If the UA hall finally calls me I’ll take a huge pay cut and have to literally scrape by for my first 3 years not really getting to build onto my savings or anything else until I get to a good pay rate but have everything I want in the long run i really don’t know what to do I know what I want but I’m really dreading being that broke and behind for years before I get back to where I am now which isn’t even close to what either Journeyman makes

Do I just suck it up and drown my first few years? Has anyone else had this experience?

I went to feed my black milk snake today and she’s absolutely not in her tank she just shed 2 days ago that’s the last time I saw her, I have scoured the house and can’t find her anywhere, my biggest concern is that I have 2 cats and I’m barely ever home besides weekends is there very common places they go? What’s the first most common places to look? Is there a way I can setup a “trap” or way to lure her into a certain area? Like a heater in a bathroom with one of her dead mice? I feel like I’ll never see her again in this house or she’ll starve and I’m freaking out

I’m on the path to joining the pipefitters union but I’m starting to question the decision, I’m not a kid fresh out of high school living with parents- I have bills and depend on my job to live and will be taking a pay cut during my first few years as an apprentice.. I know there’s a very very high chance of a lay off going into the union, how will I get by on a lay off when making apprentice wages doesn’t really pay enough to save up for that time to come and not knowing how long it will last?? I don’t want to drown once I do get laid off and don’t want to gamble with my life every time a job ends