What Do You Do?

[scoutcub]

Joined the Marines out of high school, (79) Infantry and then motor transport....then did a stint in the Army.... scout and attack helicopter pilot..... then a stretch in the Coast Guard, SAR pilot, Instructor, & Dept Head..... retired with 25 years in 06.
Been flying as an overseas offshore pilot since then.
Had big plans to really retire at 50....:laughing:

 

[MWRR]

I grew up on a small forty acre farm. My dad had his own construction company and he worked long hours trying to keep the company going. All the farm work (plowing, discing, planting, cultivating, feeding livestock, and milking cows by hand) were done by my brother and I. Back in those days I hated the farm and couldn't wait to get away from all the hard work.
After graduating high school I went to work as a finish carpenter and a couple of years later I went to work in a wood working shop. I got married shortly after starting work at the wood working shop. After watching my dad struggle trying to make a living in the construction industry I decided that I needed to find a job that had a pension and benefits.
In 1977 I made a complete career change and became a police officer in my home town. After three years on the municipal police department I took a police officer position with the University. I spent most of my career as an investigator and command officer. After twenty nine years as a police officer I retired in April 2006. The first year of retirement I did nothing but piddle around the farm.
In 1979 I bought the family farm from my parents. Now my retirement consists of working a full time job doing maintenance/carpenter work and raising cattle and hay on the f瑞amily farm? Now I love working the farm. How things change.

 

[sfloggie]

Dad was Active Army so we traveled until he had a medical retirement. Went from Germany to settle in MS.

2000 acres farmed of which one thousand was 16 section land. Dad did gravel truck, tractor trailer (vegetables), movie transportation manager (This Property is Condemned) and other things to help pay for the farm and five kids.

We had farm crops, hay plus Polled Herford, Sharla and Santa Gertrudis cattle plus six horses. Each of us had our land and cattle to care for, so I hated it.

Had a 4 yr scholarship, but decided to go into the Army in 1968. Was mainly enlisted and commissioned Special Forces with conventional assignments in units such as the 101st. Retired from the Army in 2000. 80% disabled due to rough stuff, but moving forward always!

Began and continue to work near D.C. with a High Tech Defense Contractor while working on our 113 acre farm which I love. Turn of mind set from when I was young as others have said!

Plan to retire in 2015 to do "stuff" on the farm and help others such as Veterans and others as best I can. Bit tired, but I think it is the office environment. Also spend time with my great wife as I was never home and that remains the case.

Would love to own a Fecon 140L or Bobcat T770 with Forestry Cutter. But the wife is not keen on the price, but I do dream and rent one ever now and then.

I am Blessed...Best to all as usual,

Jim

 

[g0rd0]

left school in 73, drove trucks and tracked vehichels for the Canadian reserve army. Joined the Regular force Navy in 74.
I sailed on DDH's, Margaree, Fraiser Also on tribal class destroyer Iroquois and friggit Halifax. I am also a submariner I sailed for 3 years on the oberon class submarine Okanagan. Also while in the navy I was able to become a ships diver and was lucky enough to get a 3&1/2 years posting at the British Army training unit in Suffield Alberta.
In June 96 I retired from the navy when I bought this old farmstead. Since we moved here we have raised chickens, and sheep. Grown and marketed low bush blue berries and made to supply a small local market maple syrup.
In 2001 I started working part time as a mechanics helper to supplement my income. That lasted for almost 4 years. due to health reasons I left the work force and sold my livestock, small stock, syrup equipment and blueberry sorting equipment.
Now I spend my time makeing and drinking wine and playing on my tractor.

 

[professor]

I spent 39 years in higher education. I taught human anatomy and physiology for 15 years and then moved to administration. I retired in 2010 as the college provost. I farm about 64 acres most of which is in pasture with the exception of 1/2 acre garden and 4 acre apple and peach orchard.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I'm always impressed with the knowledge that surfaces on this forum. I'm sure we have full time farmers, engineers, very experienced mechanics and maybe a rocket scientist or two.
So let your occupatation be known.

I spent 35 years as an outside sales rep. A couple years back I had become so disenchanted with the work that I retired early. Now I can play with my toys whenever I like.

How about you?

I grew up in a steel town at the south end of Lake Michigan, in a family of six kids raised by Slovak immigrants from what was then Czecho-Sovakia. I worked my way through school at Purdue University and recieved my BS degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

I spent almost 35 years as a propulson aerodynamics engineer with a big airplane company in Seattle whose name I won't mentioned. I picked up an MS in Engineering at the University of Washington while working full time and raising a family. I retired in 1999 at age 57 as Chief Engineer-Propulsion Research and Preliminary Design.

We have a small irrigated cattle ranch on the Flathead Indian Reservation in NW Montana at the foot of the Mission Mountains, moving here in 2002. When we got here the place hadn't been irrigated for 7 years, the 1-1/2 miles of fence were falling down and the place was overrun with weeds. We had a house built, and we've slowly recovered the land, fixed up the irrigation system, and stocked it with cattle. We grow some hay on part of the place and have it custom harvested for winter feed.

My wife, a pure quill Texan, was an executive office admministrator for the same outfit I worked for and she's an certified Master Gardener in WA and MT as well as a certified Master Food Preserver in MT. She has a big organic garden (she calls it biodynamic, not organic) and we both serve as 4H judges at our local county fair. She judges horticulture projects and I judge cowboy poetry. I write cowboy poetry and recite at gatherings around the state and we're both active in our parish at the historic St. Ignatius Mission.

 

[JDgreen227]

From 1971 thru late 2002 I worked for a large state agency as the lead carpenter/handyman for Facilities Management. I did general construction, designed and built movable office systems, traveled all over the state as a troubleshooter and general jack-of-all-trades.

Retired at age 51 because of an early-out deal offered state employees--I had 31 years in and don't regret retiring early.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I'm always impressed with the knowledge that surfaces on this forum. I'm sure we have full time farmers, engineers, very experienced mechanics and maybe a rocket scientist or two.
So let your occupatation be known.

I spent 35 years as an outside sales rep. A couple years back I had become so disenchanted with the work that I retired early. Now I can play with my toys whenever I like.

How about you?

Mark,

This is an AWESOME thread.

THANK YOU for this idea!
David

 

[Eagle09]

First, I want to thank all the military veterans for your service and sacrifice. I admire and respect each of you for what you have done for all of us.

After high school I attended college to study criminal justice. After that I got hired as a Deputy Sheriff and started my career. I worked 6 years as a vice narcotics detective, then 9 years as a criminal investigator. After moving back into the uniformed division I made my way through the ranks to Lieutenant.

Retired 3 years ago after more than 31 years as an officer, started a small mowing business which I continue to do. We have just over 30 acres and I really enjoy tinkering around here on that and getting to many other home projects that needs to be done.

 

[Cox89XJ]

After I graduated high school, I went to trade school to become an electrician. Did that for 30 years. I've been on my current job as an Electrical Transmission System Operator for the past 12 years. I plan on fully retiring this August.

 

[Fi-Q]

Graduate high school in 98, then went and got my Industtial Technology degree from 98-02. Then work 1 year for GE aircraft engine, then 2 years as a Class A millwright in a tissue paper mill. But I hated the city and something was calling me back home. But there was / still is no work around here. So despite the seniority, the pension plan, the strong union and the wealthy pay from the paper mill, in december 04 I quit for what was suppose to be a 2 year contract as a Mechanical / Pipe fitting quality control on a 500 MW hydo **** construction job site in James bay , way up norhen quebec, that was on a man camp. His brought my adresses back to the gaspe peninsula. I did loved that job, but after 6 month, I got a call from an old college teacher. A hugrs energy company was starting a wind mill field division in Canada. Couldn't help it and took the job. Been working for hem since may 05 as a construction field manager. Been all over Canada & Us. Started single and now married and 2 kids plus 1 on the way, carrying them in a hughe fifty-wheel. But we too have a new house in our home town, so as time goes familly will stay more home than travellin with dad. My oldest just turn 3. So I still hav2-3 year before she start full time school. Will see then. I do really love my job, but 3000 hour per year and 4 days off every 6 week ain't a winner for family life....... So will see, will have to male decision soon or later for a new career. Norther. quebec is trating to boom like crazy. Lot of my friends are getting jobs in mines way up north on '' fly in - fly out'' man camp. Most of them are 14 days on site @ 12 hours per day / 14 days off, they fly you home. And making in the 6 digits. I am looking but not ready to trade the south for the North yet. After all, I am only 30.

 

[JoelD]

Great posts
Started my own business while in college, sold it to a client when I graduated.
Drove a uniform truck for a while
Worked 5 years in the postal service went back to college, left the po as a supervisor after getting my accounting degree and worked for IBM, then went to kpmg for five years left as a manager with my cpa and now director of audit and information security officer at a public company working with a bunch of super smart people and learning something new just about every day.

On the side I pick up unwanted lawn and garden equipment, repair and then sell (keep a bunch also)

Entrepreneur at heart And always working on the next idea.

Would love to be a heavy equipment operator or a welder.

Best job ever is being my daughter's daddy!!

Joel

 

[WM75Guy]

Started in private EMS in 1975 while in high school, in 1980 started a 22 year career in the suburbs of Fort Worth as a firefighter/paramedic/arson investigator, retired in 2002 when my wife took a job in Missouri. Worked computer hardware/software maintenance for GED programs in Missouri and taught instructors how to use the programs for a while, came back to Texas and went back into EMS field work and instructing. Been a paramedic/EMS instructor now for 32 years. In 2008 graduated nursing school as an RN and have been working full time in the ED. Still teach EMS and do field work occasionally, mostly large motorsport events like NHRA, IHRA and AMA.

 

[sfloggie]

Cool!!! Everyone of you...really cool!

Jim

 

[EE_Bota]

Neglecting education altogether, here is what I did to make a buck in chronological order starting at age 6:

Egg gatherer of a couple of chicken houses.

Primed tobacco.

Picked up hay

Feeder pig and beef cattle work. Castrations, de-horning, all that stuff.

Veterinary Assistant as a big clinic...lots of surgery.

Milked lots of cows. Maybe all of them.

Chicken feed maker, a million pounds a night.

Dairy research farm hand, executing research experiments mostly in reproduction and nutrition.

Dairy Herdsman with some research, but also (therapy/rehab.) of first mental patients, later prison inmates.

Machine Shop Flunky

Substation Transformer Designer

Plant Engineer

Automation Specialist

 

[D7E]

Neglecting education altogether
Eg

Me too , age of 15 i had enough of that nonsense and bought a tractor and went pulling silage trailers for a custom crew

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I've been operating printing presses for the past 30 years. Totally burntout and seeking change at 50 years old.:confused2:

 

[EE_Bota]

Me too , age of 15 i had enough of that nonsense and bought a tractor and went pulling silage trailers for a custom crew

I'm sorry for the confusion...but I meant neglecting mention of education in the writeup. I did get a BS in Animal Science and a BS in Electrical Engineering during those years. Apparently I should have taken more classes in composition.

A thoughtful, hardworking man with a good mind can educate himself. It used to be the norm in this country many years ago. I have met folks with the intelligence, work ethic, and dedication to educate themselves. I wish I were that good, but I have to admit...I cannot walk THAT tall. I salute people like that.:thumbsup:

 

[some zilch]

since graduating school--
heavy truck/quarry equipment mechanic
lowboy truck driver/occasional road service tech for heavy equipment
i currently "dabble" on the side with my own service truck, take the occasional trip in a semi (mostly milk), and work on small engine stuff in my home shop.

i'm now a equipment mechanic for a large municipality and hate every minute of it. the whole "state worker" mentality is not for me.

i'm trying to decide wether or not i could make oa go of it on my own with my own semi truck dump trailer