What Do You Do?

[Mike476]

At age 13 started wet-sanding / taping off cars for my father to paint. At 16 pumped gas at a garage dad was working at as a mechanic on the side, he was in the RCAF as an aviation mech. After high school I started my mechanics apprenticeship and worked at a garage my father owned, but after two years of working in a pit 6 days a week I joined the RCAF as an aviation tech myself.

That was over 30 years ago, am still trying to decide what I want to do on retirement in a few years.

 

[irvingj]

Started out hanging around step-dad's auto mechanic shop at 14, built the engine for his XK-120 at 17. Tried college several times but found that it didn't agree with me.... too inefficient. Lottsa credits, no degrees. Started out as a math major. Spent 3 years as a Chinese translator for the USArmy (ASA), 1969-1972. Stationed in Japan 1970-72. More "mechanic-ing" after I got out of the Army. After another stint at college (Monterey Institute, Chinese/Asian Studies) in the mid-70s, I dropped out and then spent a year and a half repairing pinball machines, vending machines, and early electronic games. Got into HVAC in 1979, stayed with that until 1990. A few more college courses, then lost interest again. Have been an educational assistant for the past 20 years at a local middle school, mostly teaching/tutoring math, occasionally teaching Chinese. Still do just about all of my own auto/motorcycle repairs, now learning about 56-year-old airplanes. Hoping to retire within a few years.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I grew up on a farm, got a job with Brown and Root,Inc at 18 in 1968 and worked up to welder then got drafted into the army, then hardship discharged to go back to the farm when Dad had heart attack. Stuck with farming till Dad retired then went back to B&R as a welder then supervisor and then Quality Assurance Manager on heavy construction of Power Boilers and Petro-Chem plants. Worked stateside till 1980 then went to work in Saudi Arabia, then Venezuela and then back to the states to raise the family. The last 12 years I have worked foreign service jobs with KBR (formerly Brown and Root) in Canada, U.K, Peru, Mexico, Nigeria and Algeria. Retired in June last year and was enjoying retirement till Dec when KBR wanted me to come to Algeria for a 2 month assignment. I am still here but hope to go back to full retirement soon. Got a little 11.29 acre spread where I built my retirement home and raise a few chickens for eggs. I just bought some Pea fowl and may get into raising exotic birds for hobby when I finally get out of Algeria.

 

[Lt CHEG]

Currently I am a Special Agent working for the United States Government. Prior to this gig, I was a local police officer.

I am a chemical engineer by education. I also went on to qualify as a nuclear engineer. I worked professionally in the engineering field for the private sector, state, local and federal governments before realizing that what you do in engineering school is very different than actually working as an engineer. I don't really enjoy doing research, so I quickly decided that pursuing my PhD in the hopes of becoming an engineering professor someday was not likely to be a successful endeavor. So, since I always had an interest in law enforcement, and also enjoyed the public safety field as a volunteer firefighter, I figured might as well give it a try. The rest as they say is history. I do get to use some of my engineering skills in my current position which is cool, particularly when I get to train others which is something that I really enjoy.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Working as Navistar parts dept manager for the past 11 years , the 20 years before as a parts counter man. Funny thing is the parts manage themselves but the people ,

That's funny! :laughing:

 

[cowpatty]

Was enrolled in WYOTECH out of high school with dreams of being a high end auto mechanic....dad got sick so I hung around home instead. I ended up going to college nearby and got employment at the local bank. Worked my way up at the bank while getting my bachelors degree. Now I am a loan officer at the bank and have been there six years.

 

[RDrancher]

Started out working for a heavy equipment outfit back in 1974, then drove a concrete mixer for a few years. Got my concrete contractors license in 1987 and did that (both residential and commercial) until 2004 when I moved to Texas. I decided to stay as far away from concrete and employees as possible, so it took me awhile to figure out what I wanted to do. I got in with some ranch folks and hayed and worked cattle for awhile before starting my construction, grading and gravel driveway business here a few years ago. I haven't been completely successful at staying away from the concrete end of things but my business is exploding and I couldn't be happier!

 

[catskinner]

I work in a rare field now, I'm a factory worker in Michigan that relies on the products made local to make ours. :laughing:

 

[woodlandfarms]

I produce movies, commercials, tv shows and special venue projects. think of me as a general contractor, bring me your money, bring me your plans and I will get you a movie. Raised on a small farm in nw Wyoming, was exposed to farm life but as both parents taught didn't fully live it. Now playing catchup on all the things I have never learned and should have. Thank god for good neighbors who are tolerant of naivete

Carl

 

[brt]

I've been a full-time firefighter for 37 years (33 years with my current department). I can still keep up with the young bucks and frequently surprise them with my stamina, but it takes more recovery time (and beer!) than it did 20+ years ago. I'll be calling it done sometime this year. Can't wait to get started on that personal bucket list with no time constraints. That "Honey Do" list on the fridge gets longer every day now that more time to finish it will be available.

This forum is one of the best. Kind of like a bunch of guys sitting around in the garage and trying (sometime successfully) to solve all of the world's problems. Thanks for all of the great advice and problem-solving ideas.