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

[madrone]

Interesting how many have been through a wide variety of work experience.

Also been through a few occupations: Facilities maintenance, printing press operator, restaurant server in Vegas casino, glass etcher, welding and bronze casting instructor, college shop tech. Got a BFA in sculpture along the way. Currently apprentice electrician.

I appreciate having a range of experience, but sometimes I'm jealous of those who picked early and stuck with it. Usually means they retire early as well...

 

[Flatbedford]

I appreciate having a range of experience, but sometimes I'm jealous of those who picked early and stuck with it. Usually means they retire early as well...

Usually

 

[Swedishchef]

Usually

Pfft. Everyone seems to be riding the freedom 75 train and no longer the freedome 55 train.

I have an amazing pension (2% of my wage per year service plus after 25 years the pension is indexed with inflation) but I will likely work until I am 65. I could retire with a full pension at 58. By the time I retire a loaf of bread will cost $7. lol

 

[Flatbedford]

My union has a pretty good pension too, but I didn't get into the plan until I was 30. No early retirement for me.

 

[BrotherBart]

If you were staying until the fat lady sings you would have had to leave on the third day.

 

[Flatbedford]

We've got fat ladies singing all the time here! Matinee starts in 15 minutes.

 

[bfunk13]

I work in the oil & gas industry.
Basically the guy at the wellhead responsible for all production and maintenance of oil and gas wells.
I pump 66 wells spread throughout about 300 square miles. Typical day it is me and the dog, might not see another person all day. Usually see my boss twice a month. Good job, great pay, winter time is more than a huge challenge. Between frozen wells, brutal working conditions and just getting to your locations. Not for everyone for sure.

 

[Flatbedford]

might not see another person all day. Usually see my boss twice a month.

I could put up with some pretty brutal working conditions for that.

 

[bfunk13]

I could put up with some pretty brutal working conditions for that.

It is pretty nice, the field i work in has elk, deer, antelope, badger, coyote, eagles and more. I probably see a human to animal ratio of 1/1000

 

[Flatbedford]

I've seen your pictures. Pretty awesome scenery out there. Are you still smoke free?

 

[bfunk13]

I've seen your pictures. Pretty awesome scenery out there. Are you still smoke free?

YES! Thanks for asking

 

[Flatbedford]

Good news! Judging from my experience, you should be good for life by now if you want to be.

 

[Flatbedford]

I just looked up you quitting thread. You are more than a year now. Congarts! I knew that if you really wanted to, you could.

 

[madrone]

yeah, we don't tolerate smoking here of any kind

 

[Jags]

From up high in my perch: (Scary, ain't it?)

 

[Flatbedford]

Don't look down

 

[Shane N]

From up high in my perch: (Scary, ain't it?)


View attachment 89420

/me looks down. GAH! Same view!

 

[madrone]

you guys are tied off, right?

 

[Seasoned Oak]

I've seen your pictures. Pretty awesome scenery out there. Are you still smoke free?

Wish my relatives would kick the habit,visiting them is like perching on my chimney before the afterburner is engaged. Pure torture.

 

[fespo]

Well I grew up in the family owned landscaping business, work there till I was 35 or so. Thing were getting bad with everyone working out of the back of there truck. Found a job on line joking around. They call me in hired me that day. That job was a maint. tech job for Prologis in Chicago. Great job at first, company truck, tools, and everything else you would need. My manager that hired me said I won't last more then 2 years right in the interview. He said I wanted more then the company could offer me. I lasedt 4 1/2 years. Oh ya they sent me to HVAC school too. That took my 3 1/2 years of night school a night a week. Then I seen an add in the local paper for maint.tech,with grounds and snow plowing exp. I put in my resume, I got an interview and 2 weeks later I was working, at my local school dist. were my kids go to school as maint tech. About 2 or so years later, they split things up. Now there was inside building maint. and outside grounds. I took the outside grounds supervisor job and never looked back. Great benfits, great pay, 6.5 miles from home. Im outside everyday, good or bad. Im doing what I like, playing in the dirt.

 

[Swedishchef]

Well I grew up in the family owned landscaping business, work there till I was 35 or so. Thing were getting bad with everyone working out of the back of there truck. Found a job on line joking around. They call me in hired me that day. That job was a maint. tech job for Prologis in Chicago. Great job at first, company truck, tools, and everything else you would need. My manager that hired me said I won't last more then 2 years right in the interview. He said I wanted more then the company could offer me. I lasedt 4 1/2 years. Oh ya they sent me to HVAC school too. That took my 3 1/2 years of night school a night a week. Then I seen an add in the local paper for maint.tech,with grounds and snow plowing exp. I put in my resume, I got an interview and 2 weeks later I was working, at my local school dist. were my kids go to school as maint tech. About 2 or so years later, they split things up. Now there was inside building maint. and outside grounds. I took the outside grounds supervisor job and never looked back. Great benfits, great pay, 6.5 miles from home. Im outside everyday, good or bad. Im doing what I like, playing in the dirt.

Sounds like you have a great gig! Gotta love working close to home. I have lots of friends working in Montreal and spending 3-4 hours a day in traffic. I have had numerous opportunities to work there but have passed them all up because of the loss of time in traffic. No thanks!

 

[loadstarken]

I'm a stay at home dad with lots of manly hobbies. Hehe

 

[Swedishchef]

I'm a stay at home dad with lots of manly hobbies. Hehe

AWESOME! I am currently on parental leave and my wife stays at home (will go back to work in 4 years once the kids are in school)

I can tell you one thing: that is hard. Taking care of kids is something that in this day and age not many parents want to do: they would rather ship the kids off to daycare so they can have 2 new SUVs, 4 trips down south a year, etc etc etc. Consumerism has taken over their lives. I know of people my age that take 2 weeks vacation and send the kid to daycare for 1.5 of it.

All that to say I raise my hat to you buddy, it's not easy. Lots of work! way to go!

 

[Flatbedford]

Post some pictures of that '78 Loadstar!

 

[Swedishchef]

Not to mention that I am yet to see a person say "I wish I would have shipped my kids to daycare more often" however I have heard many people say "I wish I would have stayed home longer or spent more time with my kids". The child pahse of a human goes fast. Take time to enjoy it, raise your kids with your values and morals and things will work out great for them down the road!