What Do You Do?

[MossflowerWoods]

Well, I posted that early on in this thread. After reading 17 pages of replies, I feel that I didn't elaborate enough. So, here's some additional info:
Started out in my early teens hauling hay, working on chicken farms, and fixing flats at a local gas station.
At 14, my cousin began training me to operate heavy equipment. I've owned and/or operated dirt equipment, off and on, ever since. (and still love doing it)
At about 16, I started working for another cousin as a carpenter's helper.
At 18, I went to work for Brown & Root. Depending on what was available, I worked both as an equipment operator and a millwright.
At 21, I started college. After one year, I decided to drop out and I bought my first backhoe and dumptruck.
At 22, I married, and that's when the "real" work began.
At 25, with my wife out of college and working a good job, I sold my equipment and went back to college. During the summer and holiday breaks, I continued to operate dirt equipment for my cousin.
Nearly 28 years old, I finally graduated from college with a degree in History, and a minor in Religion.
After college, I started driving a school bus, and did that for 3 years.
The next spring, my Dad died, and I took over operation of the farm. (cattle, goats, and hay)
While still driving the bus, at 29, I bought another backhoe and dumptruck. This time, I also bought a bulldozer.
At 34, I sold my equipment and started a fire extinguisher service. I worked in the fire protection industry for 14 years.
Last fall, I bought another dumptruck. This time, however, I went big. It's a tractor/trailer rig that can haul a 28 ton load. Still playin' in the dirt! :laughing:
Here's a pic of the truck: (click on the thumbnail to see the full-size pic)
Additionally, I've been a bi-vocational Baptist preacher for the last 25 years. (bi-vocational just means that I don't make a living at it)

NICE TRUCK!
:thumbsup:
David

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Reading many pages of this thread, for sure there is a large variety of professions represented.

Since 1998, I've been a ful time retiree. Prior to that spent 27 yrs at HP medical div as a M.E. Prior to that spent a number of yrs in the aerospace industry working in the tooling dept.

Came from a long line of male family members with a lot of mechanical aptitude. Nearest thing to farming, I spent a couple yrs running a custom haying business,

 

[Ranger Rick]

I started working in parks after high school and then went to college and got a degree. I started working as a park ranger and over the years moved up to be a park manager. I have managed parks with ball fields. Lots of tractors and equipment to maintain the fields. I managed a water park with a wave pool and water slides. They moved me to a farm that that had been given to the park. I had to learn on the job from my staff how to take care of the farm animals. While some of you all grew up on a farm I grew up in the city and worked on a farm. I got the farm park started in agritainment with a corn maze and pick your own pumpkins. We also did farm tours for school groups. I learned how to fix a corn planter and plant a corn field for the maze. The maze did well and supported the educational operation. The last park I managed was a 40 mile trail along an old railroad. I retired from the parks after 28 years. The park lets me come back and hop on a tractor a couple of days a week to mow grass for them on my schedule. The rest of my time is spent working on fixing up the 40 acres, home and barn we bought in the Virginia countryside to be our retirement home. My wife still has a few more years before she can retire so I have lots to do to get it ready. I loved the out doors so our place is like my own private parks Our golden retrievers love it also.

 

[lungdoc]

Lung doc ...as the name implies. Respirologist (Americans call us pulmonologists) for 17 years, in Niagara Ontario. Have a cottage in Muskoka north of Toronto where my in-laws have 1200 acres and I get a chance to be a weekend redneck.

 

[Privatedoc]

Lung doc ...as the name implies. Respirologist (Americans call us pulmonologists) for 17 years, in Niagara Ontario. Have a cottage in Muskoa north of Toronto where my in-laws have 1200 acres and I get a chance to be a weekend redneck.

Hi lungdoc, I very nearly came to BC to work some 20 yrs ago, opted to stay closer to home in Scotland but nice to see some other human mechanics on here!

 

[JJZ 109]

26 years as a state correction officer. Could have retired a year ago but still hanging in. Though lately I'm starting to ask myself why. Maybe if I was a little older I'd be done. But I haven't hit 50 yet. :thumbsup:
Before that worked in building construction and then worked for a blacktop company. Did everything from driving tractor trailers, dump truck, shoveling blacktop and flagging.
Started a seamless gutter business about 2 1/2 years ago and have all the work I can handle and then some.

I don't know how to create anything, don't know much about fixing things or really anything tangible. I'm a CPA and without the internal revenue code I wouldn't be worth much at all. I really respect the people on this board that really know how to do these tangible things.

But guys like you make life a lot simpler for guys like me to operate a business!

 

[Rickstir]

At the age of 65 I retired last Sept. 30. I teach online upper level undergraduate and graduate courses for the college I retired from. I was in IT management. Been teaching part time for 24 years, the last 6 online. Keeps me "in the game" so to say. I find reasons to get on my 4110 Mahindra every chance I get!

 

[Mercmaniac]

I helped my cousin a lot on my uncles farm when I was a kid. Through high school I worked for a landscaping co during the summer months. It was a husband,wife and son business. I started with them in their early years. Raking rocks off of future residential lawns, spreading grass seed with a hand spreader and shaking slices of hay. During my 4 years with them we graduated to a hydroseeder and mulcher and mostly did work at highway/road construction projects. I got a 2 year degree in electronics technology and started towards my electrical engineering degree. I really wanted to be an electrician so I quit college and applied to the IBEW apprenticeship program. I was taken in in 1990 and have stayed with the same contractor ever since. Mostly commercial work the first 8 yrs and mostly industrial since then. 2 years ago I tested and passed for my merchant mariner's credentials and now during July and Aug I run weekend charter fishing trips on Lake Ontario for trout and salmon.

 

[BX25HD]

I am an operations shift supervisor at a uranium enrichment facility for about 7 years now. I'm just about finished with my degree in computer science. Before all of that I was in the Navy. But all I really want to do is work at home on my farm with my family. We just started to raise ducks and guinea fowl for meat and eggs. This summer I hope to have enough crops to supply our own feed to the birds. After the house is paid off, I am going to be a full time farmer; well that's the plan anyway.

 

[NHmitch]

I served in the US Air Force for 4 years active duty, and was stationed around the world. I then became a police officer, and was on the job full time, for 16 years between the military, on several departments as a Federal, and State, and Local cop. I worked 2 years in Corrections, and I have been an EMT throughout my career. I also have been a flight crew member while deployed to bad places. I got called back in for OEF/OIF for 2 more years, and 3 surgeries to my right/left shoulders , and my right leg, after a blast, I am done, and I am living on a small farm in New Hampshire with my wife and 3 year old daughter. We have always had a small farm. Since I am a disabled veteran, the VA is paying for schooling so I can have a new career ,and I am going to school for Ultrasonography. Big change from the military/police career. I have also been looking at the Farmer-Veteran Coalition, and I have had help from the Wounded Warrior Program. I am glad to be on here, and this is a great community!

Mitch