So what's it like to be a mailman?

[Cry Me A River]

My brother works for Canada Post.

He started seasonally as a sorter. However, in order to get on permanently he had to work as a carrier for a few months.

That is a brutal, brutal job. And according to him, the vast majority of carriers have massive substance abuse problems to cope with it (working drunk and/or stoned is common for carriers). Mail carrier is one of the most physically demanding jobs there is. If you are not prepared for this both mentally and physically, you will be crushed.

It's one thing to walk five or ten miles in a day with a load, it's another thing to do this every day. Day in and day out.

However, if you have an inside job it's extremely cushy. Particularly if you're competent since most people working for the post office are not.

BTW - According to my brother, driving the mail trucks is the WORST job. You're micromanaged like crazy and on a very tight schedule at all times.