hi lisa...well, there's so much that goes on from starting school to being a tender offshore. i too started at age 30 as a tender offshore and it wasn't easy having bosses that were 20 and had a God complex. i was in the Marine Corps from age 18 to 22 but i wasn't a diver. i've always been an ocean person, grew up on the water and raised in east texas. being a comm diver is a job that demands alot from a person and the families they may have. alot of guys lose their families because of the job, but i look at it like being in the military. you lose your families from that too sometimes. being a tender, you're the low guy on the totem poll and you get all the sh*t thrown your way most the time. you're the one doing the hard work while the divers and other people on the job watch you. it's ok though because they've been there and paid their dues. once your son breaks out, he'll be in their shoes as well. that structure varies from boat to boat, company to company. i was on the same boat for over 2 yrs but i talked to buddies on other boats and other companies....some were eaiser and more laid back with their tenders....others were the same as mine....and some were harder. from your son not talking that much makes me think that he's on a boat or job that's demanding and is taking alot out of him. being at that age, you only focus on your job because it's all you've got. that might sound sad to say but most the time it's true.