Quick question; what do you do (or did you do) for a career?

The Post Office even has their own police! I was on a movie set and a USPS truck crashed into a local police car that was doing traffic control. The local police couldn't do anything with the driver who was visibly drunk! We had to stop everything and wait for the postal police to deal with him.

System Administrator for a health insurance company during the day. Woodburner at nights.

Nice Kat. been doing it for a long time?

Which one? I've been in IT since november of 95, right before i graduated college and a woodburner for 9 years, the last 5 years consistently, prior to that it was sporadically just to set the ambiance, now i burn for heat and purpose. Which one i like the most, both, they soft of compliment each other in different ways. lol. great post.

This is the beta version of my job

Kat: Did you study in IT?

Nice cats Krabappel. The litter was up in the top?

No, i have a degree in Psychology with a minor in early childhood education. There was a time that I wanted to teach but that changed along the line.

Specialty Veterinary surgical device rep with a really large territory. Have worked as an iron worker/welder/fabricator and do a little semi-amature blacksmithing - I also have a small custom cedar arrow building business that generates a little income each year.

Kind of do what I like - work and create with my hands when I can for extra lettuce and make a living saving dogs lives which I love.

Out of high school I went to work in the construction field building wastewater pumping stations. Dirty job and the pay was LOW due to my age and experience. I did however learn a lot and ran a lot of equipment including a crane, travel lift and a 10 wheel boomtruck for delivering precast tanks.

I always had an interest in the Fire Department because my father was a firefighter. I started as a volunteer at 16 and was lucky enough to get hired as a career firefighter at 21. I'm currently a shift commander (Lieutenant) in charge of the shift on duty. I've also moonlighted part time as a truck driver (tri-axle dump & heating oil) and had my own lawn maintenance company. Lately, young children have kept me home on my day's off from the firestation but I'm sure I'll pick up something on the side again when my little one is in school all day.

Very nice! Already planning a retirement? I got into my gig at 24, not too shabby.

Very interesting! Never seen anybody with a job like that before!

I'm not sure what you mean by "planning a retirement" but I can assure you I have a long way to go before I collect a pension.

I hear ya, I too am a long way from a pension. I can retire at 20 years with penalty however at 25 years there is no penalty (2%/yr for the average of my last 5 years of service). Considering I am in my 9th year, I have a ways to go

I am 13 years into 30 required for retirement.

How old are you? I will likely work my full 35 years which means I have another 26 to go...full pension at 59. Then I will likely get a pension for 1 year and drop dead just to piss me off: all that money put into a pension and get nothing out of it.

I'll be 43 this year. Can take early retirement from my union a couple days after my 60th birthday.

That's not a bad deal either
However my investments these days are not working: the lottery hasn't been too forgiving. If I win it..poof, gone!!

Its OK. I don't expect to stop working at 60. I just hope to work less doing something I want to do. It's a long time from now. We'll see how it goes.

Swedishchef - It is very interesting and surprising as it may seem canine ACL repair surgery is a billion+ dollar a year industry in the US. That is more that what is spent on human knee surgery. My dog has a bionic knee I do not work with ortho or sell any of the ortho plates and it is very competitive for obvious reasons. My company specializes in minimally invasive procedures and nitinol stents are pretty much our flagship line but we offer a whole bunch of other surgical tools and devices.

For me it is great because I am such a dog guy but the real upside to veterinary medicine vs. human medicine is the "pay to play" requirement - no insurance or Obamacare issues to deal with. Veterinary medicine is an all cash business for the most part. Statistically there are no more dogs/cats in America per capita than there was 20yrs ago but the medical money spent has increased in the neighborhood of 500% over the same time span. Instead of having a dog that lives outside with minimal interaction they are now treated as a family member - I am certainly guilty of this change

Automotive Technician my whole life.

I agree. I have a friend who is a vet. Like he said, people are very attached to their pets and will go to any length to give them the care they need.

ANdrew

Smoke: do you work for a dealer or a 3rd party?
That is something I need to learn. I barely know a thing about a car. I can change oil and that's about it...

Worked on two of my uncles farms, driving Farmall H & M tractors, plowing, disking, planting, harvesting, hay, beef heifers, another uncles gas station & garage, specialized rope manufacturing. Then started working with my father in the constuction/ building business, custom homes, additions, repairs & re-modeling, driving school bus as a substitute, if things were slow, driving ice truck during the summer on the weekend & some evening runs. Still in the constuction/ building business after Dad's passing (still miss him!) working by my self, learned how to work smart, as trying find good help is hard these days. Plan on getting my A&P license to work on general aviation planes, always want to have something to fall back on. Also helps when working on my own planes, especially my 48 Luscombe 8A & my 48 Temco Swift project. Also working on my 53 Farmall Super H. Yes I have a very understanding Wife Boy did I love the Farm !

Worked at a GM dealer from age 19-37. Now at an independent still looking for greener pastures....

That is an AMAZING pass time: working on your own planes!! Contracting is a great business and can pay off quite well! COngrats!

I am sure you'll find greener pastures sooner than later!