What do you do for a living?

[friz]

Started life in molecular biochemistry -- working in DNA chemistry when it still was a manual process with p32 radioactive label. Bit of a closet engineer from my undergraduate studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Tried teaching high school - physics and chemistry. Too much work trying to get kids to want to learn subjects I loved.

Changed to computer science -- at the start of the PC age. Went through startups ( and stops ). Merged my computer science and biochemistry while working at a biomedical startup that was bought out by Merck for a decade. Currently doing forecasting and planning computer work.



My first hobby was running -- 15 years from high school on. Distance runner -- slow but steady. Did 6 marathons -- best time about 2:50 or 2:51 but quicker than 2:52. (Marathoners will understand this distinction) No longer in that kind of shape.

My current hobby for the last 25 or so years is dogs. Raising, showing, loving dogs. Main breed is Scottish Terriers. Dogs that we produced live all over the world. Our dogs have gone best in show at Westminister and best in show at Crufts. There are probable more men have walked on the moon than have accomplished this success in dogs.

Software carries over into my non-work hours. Currently building some computer projects in my spare time ie a Joomla contact and survey extension and an Android app for dogs. Doing some Arduino programming -- thinking about adding it to my TD design -- save space and greatly improve the flexibility of the wiring/control system/battery monitoring plus silly things like programmable LED lighting.

Another hobby is photography. Do a lot of dog pictures -- mostly to chronicle the dog shows and our travels. Will have to remember to photography my progress.

Not your typical construction/craftsman/woodworker. Most of experience is self-taught, doing repairs, remodels to my parents home and our houses over time. Will have to see how well I can do cabinetry, as that is what most of these builds are.

Could you get on that. I plan on building over the winter and would like a "smart" teardrop.

[LarryJ]

Started programming professionally when I was 18, did that for 14 years.

Became the system administrator/systems analyst/backend website programmer for a publishing company and have been there for 15 years - though, now my job description is more like system administrator/system analyst/cloud administrator/helpdesk person.

I'm currently trying to figure out what I want to do next. I received an AS in robotics a couple years ago and love tinkering with small electronics projects - but lately have been feeling disillusioned by technology and believe it has been a major factor in why our country is falling apart.

I have always had a major affinity with dogs and have started thinking it's time to get out of tech and do something I feel good about. I've started taking classes on positive dog training and plan on becoming a certified small animal massage therapist (my wife has been a CMT for over ten years and already has a successful practice - thinking of expanding to be a service for people and their pets). My goal is to help keep dogs (especially pups) in their homes and off the street, or worse, in the pound.

Other than that, I like to build things. My latest projects have been a 3D printer, a tabletop CNC machine (for cutting plastic, wood and some aluminum), Halloween props, and of course the trailer (WIP).

[Bigwoods]

I spent my time in eyecare. I did every thing from polishing lenses making glasses, making contact lenses and was a contact lens specialist. Managed optical companys and was a surgical assistant and assisted with laser surgery. I also fit artificial eyes and did angiograms of the eye, ultrasound, and photography.

Now I am retired and just gardening and mowing and taking care of the Mrs. Trying to keep all the cylinders on all the machines turn. Not an easy task. Eyes were easier.

[TimC]

I retired early (55 YRS) in May 2014 after 28 years in a paper mill finishing department. Really boring work chasing big rolls of paper from 500 lbs up to four tons, rewinding rolls and wrapping rolls. It was secure and paid well and I managed to sock away a decent enough retirement fund to go at 55. I live on a small pension from my mill's previous owner and pulling out of my IRA (IRS 72t rules for those who say "How can he do that without a penalty").

I bought an office/retail building in 2007 to start a bicycle shop and office rental on the side. Yeah, 2007, just before the bottom fell out of the market. After various degrees of success I sold the bicycle shop assets after seven years of operation and opened that space for rental space. Since 2013 I haven't had any tenants/revenues. My last Tenant moved out in Feb 2013. No income, just out-go. So, my current part-time job to pay for the building while it sits empty is as a wiring tech at a local company that builds control panels for the electrical distribution industry. Pay isn't great and I stand/sit/kneel in a four square foot area eight hours a day wiring one device to another. But, the best part is I work when I want to work. Currently four evenings a week, going to three evenings a week soon. If I want to take a week or two off I just tell them I won't be in. Like my last job I can repeat "my favorite part of my job is my days off". Flexibility in scheduling is awesome! I can work two to three shifts a week for 5 months and have enough to pay my building expenses and have a little spending money. The rest of the year I screw off!

I'm on my first TD build and dream about maybe building two or three teardrops a year and avoid the boring work for The Man. I love woodworking, creating, etc. The best part is doing it all at home. When/if the commercial building sells maybe I can start that dream without fear of failure...

[jstrubberg]

Spent most of my working career in the computer industry. The last 19 have been doing networking and virtualization for a municipality.

Hobbies? Way, way to many. Home automation and single board computing, archery, medieval re-enactment (consumer, not active anymore), DIY everything. Currently working on restoring two historical buildings in my home county and slowly rebuilding my pickup.

[cuyeda]

It's been a while since I have posted here. Worked for Kenwood Communications for almost 20 years in various capacities, sales, technical support, etc. two-way radio business:land mobile, business, public safety, and amateur (ham) radios. After that, followed a bit of a passion, a turn key luxury camping trailer rental business. Three locations: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Bozeman, MT, and soon to be Texas. Hoping that I don't get ousted after posting this!

Here is a photo of one location I manage:
We have since, updated our fleet to 2015 units.

[LarryJ]

Hoping that I don't get ousted after posting this!

I see some small campers way in the back - I think you're ok

[jandmz]

Retired after 35 years as an engineer for a large independent testing laboratory in the field of product safety and standards compliance evaluation. My retirement was their idea, not mine, but it led to the best retirement job ever, operating a 25 ton steam locomotive at an amusement park.

[CLChastain]

Retired claim service assistant, which is property and casualty lingo for "secretary." Since retirement, I've written and self-published 4 novels (with several more in various stages of completion) and I'm sort of a hobbyist author services provider .... http://wordslingerboutique.biz/

One reason I want a travel trailer is to take it on "book tours" (ha!) and regional events, and stay (not really camp) in the closest state parks.

[KCStudly]

Let’s see, where to start…

At the beginning, one of my first hobbies (in high school) was a crew member on a stock car at the local round-e-round circle track; have always been mechanically inclined.

In high school and college (2 year ASME) I liked drafting… vellum and pencil… stinky ammonia based blue print machine.

Did a few years working in a booth at the gas station while doing homework after school. Drove wrecker and fuel delivery truck until getting my first real job as a draftsman for an architectural and structural steel fabrication shop. I got all of the staircase and handrail jobs because I was the only one who could get the math right. When all of the drafting work was done, or when they needed help with the tricky layouts, I got to go down to the shop and get dirty fabricating; learned to weld. Did some field work, too.

From there I did what I said I never would and got a job in the shipyard working on US navy nuclear submarine construction; Electric Boat. Started out in the Special Engineered Valves Group. Then moved to the mechanical end of the Construction Support dept. “Owned” HPAC, LPAC, and Emergency Diesel Generator (Fairbanks Morse 8-1/8 opposed piston). Then I got on the site team doing post delivery availabilities at the Subase in Groton. Spent 6 years there doing main shaft seal inspections, hull valves, stern planes and rudder, and anything else mechanical that needed troubleshooting or restoration/repair. Mostly writing reports and building job packages for the trades.

That led to the Post Delivery Program Office. Through a series of retirements by my superiors, I got passed to a dead end at the end of the Seawolf program, which had been shortened from some 20+ ships to three. The engineering dept would not have me back (I was tainted goods after working in the Program Office, my engineering objectivity could not be intact… or so they said).

After a total of 13 years there, I found a spot at a small architectural and industrial lighting manufacturer. Their core business was emergency backup lighting, but I got involved in some of the more exciting subcontract work for a larger manufacturer. Some of my stuff hung in Tommy Hilfiger stores all over the nation.

When that dried up I was out and did a couple of years designing new products for a debris removal company; commercial lawn mowers and leaf vacuums, including everything from large municipal curbside collection (16 inch hose, 120 horsepower, 30 yard dumps) to 20 inch trim mowers. Once we had gotten the place organized, documenting parts lists and inventory, the parent company took all of the production to another facility and closed the doors.

That brought me to doing mechanical design work, system design and maintenance work at a small pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. Conical mixers, PD pumps, stainless steel sanitary food grade systems, wash down rooms, related process equipment and systems. I do everything from reengineering and updating systems, facilities maintenance and upgrades, to TIG welding, to rebuilding large machines and transmissions. It sounds much more glamorous than it is. Sometimes I even mop the floor when needed (seems like we are always springing a leak somewhere). We have designed and built our own CHP (Combined Heat and Power) system; and our own WWTS (Waste Water Treatment System).

I like to cook. I’ve done a little bit of furniture building and upholstery (a few motorcycle seats and a large hassock). I have been into classic muscle cars, sports cars and motorcycles, and have recently gotten back into fire arms as a hobby (I would like to get into SASS/CAS when my build is complete); but for the last few years I have spent all of my extra efforts designing and building The Poet Creek Express.

Edit: Forgot to add that I am into Pumpkin Chunkin. Mista Ballista, the worlds longest throwing competition ballista.

[rowerwet]

20+ years as an air plane mechanic, I started in flight school maintenance, ended up in the airlines, and now work for a company that subcontracts for air freight to the biggest two shipping companies in the US. We operate twin and single engine turboprop (PT6) aircraft. I do everything from sheetmetal, to engine work, to avionics installs. I'm also the first guy they ask when they need someone to go "rescue" a broken plane away from home. 4 years ago I also became a pastor.
For hobbies I build boats, I recently designed a 12 foot kayak made from foam that weighs only 22 lbs. (google "sawfish kayak"). I also paddle, mountain bike, cross country ski and snow shoe.

[David Niver]

hi, I started with plant nurseries. went to IRS for benefits. Did that for 7 years. went to Surgical Tech school. Did that for eleven years. then did clerical for 4 years. Subtitute teach for 2 years. Now I am back at surgical technologist at a small hospital. Love it. hobbies, camping, visit grandkids when possible , they live 580 miles from us. lots of crafts. and our dogs. an Affenpincher, a Brussels Griffon and a old lab mix.

[CharlieL]

I was tired yesterday, today I am retired! LOL 30 years with big blue. several with 3rd party maintainers, now? Nothing if I don't want to.
Charlie

[skinnedknuckles]

I started at a car dealership as a mechanic for 4 years. Then off to a paper machine manufacturer working on forklifts ,cars ,trucks, tractors, trailers and mobile cranes for 10 years. Then off to a forklift dealer as a mechanic for 2 years. Now I repair heavy equipment, semis ,dump trucks, trailers including all welding , machining and fabrication, I have been doing this for about 15 years and I enjoy it . My hobbies include welding , woodworking , Machining, rat rods, sand rails, Jeeps , military vehicles, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, kayaking, canoeing, and of course camping.
Paul

[Vedette]

I worked for Municipal Government in Public Recreation as a Recreation Director for 20 years.
As my hobby for the past 48 year has been CARS CARS CARS!
I opened my own Street Rod and Restoration Business 21 years ago, which I have been trying to retire from for the past 2 years.
I jokingly tell everyone that since I retired I have only been working "half days"........12 hours a day!
With the projects I have on the go, it looks like I will be working half days for a long, long time.
Oh, did I mention that we also have a small Farm?????
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi