Reply to: Does contracting cause loneliness?

[Zigenare]

But look on the bright side. You could be a miserable tosser like Zigenare - where loneliness isn't just his future, but his past and present.

It has its advantages.

One being that I don't have to socialise with turds like you.

[Tindog]

I'm thinking of doing that. But I think I'm right in saying that most flats for rent are for minimum periods longer than the typical 3-month contract, so you are running a risk that you won't get extended (actually you are running a risk of early termination in all cases)

Have a look on SpareRoom - you can usually find rolling 1 month tenancies, or sublets. Look for anything with "short term lets considered" too.

I picked up mine and the landlord agreed to a 3 month + rolling 1 month instead of 9 months, as I'm taking off travelling in December. Private landlords are usually more flexible than agencies. (And house-share agencies in London are usually tulipbags anyway)

[NotAllThere]

Okay, the post about depression got me thinking...
Has anyone else felt this way?

I usually found the first week of the weekly commute a bit of a downer, but things soon picked up once I got into the routine. Twice I found lodgings with a family, which was pretty nice - decent bit of income for them, and somewhere warm and friendly with good home cooking of an evening - but mostly I'd stay in small hotels with a bar and a comfortable lounge. If it works out, you'll be on friendly terms with the locals and the staff. At one place, I'd enjoy a whisky with the hotel chef after the service was finished.

However, as many here have publicly stated many times - I'm very happy in my own company. At least, that's what I think they meant...

Loneliness is your future.

But look on the bright side. You could be a miserable tosser like Zigenare - where loneliness isn't just his future, but his past and present.

[Mordac]

eekeek

what a terrible thought

He did say "cook together".

[BR14]

team with with other contractors at client site and rent a flat together. In the evening you can watch tv together , go for drinks or clubbing , play sports or even cook together in the evening. I did that in one of the contract and it was loads of fun.

eekeek

what a terrible thought

[Andy2]

team with with other contractors at client site and rent a flat together. In the evening you can watch tv together , go for drinks or clubbing , play sports or even cook together in the evening. I did that in one of the contract and it was loads of fun.

[BoredBloke]

I'm thinking of doing that. But I think I'm right in saying that most flats for rent are for minimum periods longer than the typical 3-month contract, so you are running a risk that you won't get extended (actually you are running a risk of early termination in all cases)

That's the risk you take - I almost had my fingers burnt the last time I rented in London. 2 months into the lease for a flat in Victoria Docks the end client ditched the whole project and I was left with a flat with 4 months left to run on the lease. In the end I paid the rent until a new person could be found to take it over and all her advertising costs (which were not much)

[jmo21]

I think it does cause loneliness. I've lived in our house for 21 years and first started taking contracts away from home about 19 years ago. Since then I've managed 4 years where my contract was commutable from home - and by commutable I'd class a 100 mile round trip as a commute. There are some jobs that crop up locally, but they are scarce and never seem to crop up when you need them - and the rates can be woeful

Generally my mode of operation is a hotel for the time it takes me to rent a flat - that way I can at least have some of my home comforts around me and it's not as miserable as being stuck in a single room with a TV. It also means I can cook for myself.

10 years contracting, 10 years no more than about 1hr 20min commute (car/train/walk)

I'm not actually sure I could do the working away from home thing.

That being said, one of the reasons I started contracting was because the consultancy I worked for wanted to send me away from home for a job. So I quit and started contracting.

[GJABS]

Generally my mode of operation is a hotel for the time it takes me to rent a flat

I'm thinking of doing that. But I think I'm right in saying that most flats for rent are for minimum periods longer than the typical 3-month contract, so you are running a risk that you won't get extended (actually you are running a risk of early termination in all cases)

[GJABS]

Or you could just join an adult dating site.

The local whorehouse is there for lonely contractors

[jds 1981]

The solution is to live and work in London.

A fighting chance at being available for most of the gigs in the country, and you get to go home each night.

Plus as a contractor you've got a sniff of being able to do so.

YMMV

And even if your gig of outside of London you have the advantage of traveling against the flow..

[PerfectStorm]

The solution is to live and work in London.

A fighting chance at being available for most of the gigs in the country, and you get to go home each night.

Plus as a contractor you've got a sniff of being able to do so.

YMMV

[Gibbon]

What's that in Gibbon? Ancient Greek history?

Classical studies, Greek, Latin etc.

[jds 1981]

Find a Shed – UK Mens Sheds Association

[xoggoth]

I'm now half way through a Masters

What's that in Gibbon? Ancient Greek history?