Early 30s veteran/federal employee about to leave a stable six-figure career for deck academy program - am I fucking crazy
I’m an early 30s Navy vet and currently a white collar federal employee on a stable career path. I have an offer for a GS-13 federal job in the D.C. area ($120k+) that would come with a Top Secret clearance, retirement/pension, etc. Realistically, I could retire making $175k in today's money and with 45% of that in pension per year for the rest of my life.
I’ve also been accepted to SUNY Maritime’s grad license program, and I need to make a decision soon whether that's what I want to do. My goal would be to work on the Great Lakes. Here are my questions for you all (especially if you are a deck officer/work on the Great Lakes):
- Am I insane (fr)
- I know that rotations can vary significantly, but I would much prefer something like one month on/off or even three months on/off. How much freedom is there in choosing your rotation?
- What are pensions like? I’ve done some Googling, I’m trying to hear it from people who are actually vested in a pension system.
- How hard is this lifestyle on relationships, family, pets, and friendships? I am unmarried but want to be, and I can't have kids.
- Does the work still feel worth it after the novelty wears off?
For background: I did three Navy deployments and spent time as a Master Helmsman. I genuinely loved shiphandling, being at sea, operational work, standing watch, being part of a crew, doing something real. Some of my best memories are from that world. I know Navy experience is not the same as merchant shipping, but it is part of why this keeps pulling at me.
All that being said, I’m very aware I may be romanticizing this. I know ships have plenty of bullshit too, but I am staring down the barrel of the next 35-ish years of work and I'm not sure the office life is for me.
Thanks for reading, I know these posts are annoying but I am very much in need of a reality check.