Occupation

[Coop]

On a current thread and others, some talk of leaving work early or catching some shop work at lunch time. I’ve often wondered what members on here do as an occupation.

i have been in the fire and safety business for 50 years. My dad started it in 1947 and I grew up in it. My brother and I sold the company 3 years ago and I have been working with the current owner since, Tuesday thru Thursday. My goal is to retire completely within 12 months and see the continental USA with my bride. Meeting some of you guys in our travels would be lagniappe! 

[Llama]

I am a world class procrastinator. 

[Coop]

Bless you my brother, as I am a union member as well!

[Mick S]

I spent the majority of my career in the industrial woodworking machinery business, selling/consulting. Mostly in CNC equipment. Now I teach CNC for woodworking at the local CC.

[wtnhighlander]

Hey Coop. My day job is as a non-degree holding electrical 'engineer'. I have some technical certs and undergrad education in electrinics engineering technology. Most of my education has been OJT, working with computers and factory automation for the past 32 years. My first 'real job' involved the care and feeding of a commercial CAD system made up of computers that still used Core memory. Punch cards, monochrome displays, and hard disk drives the size of washing machines were the order of the day. This phone I'm typing on has orders of magnitude more processing power and storage than several of those CAD systems.

Nowdays I manage several IT systems, both real and virtual, and program automation gear for things like coordinated motor speed control and industrial robots.

I'm really looking forward to the day when I can forget all of it and free up more brain cells for furniture design.

[Tpt life]

I teach middle school music 9.5 months a year, and work on homes 2 months a year. The odd half month is travel. 

[RichardA]

I'm a retired old truck driver. You wouldn't have computers if it were not for guys like me.  Or bluejeans.

[SawDustB]

I'm an electrical engineer, and I spend most of my days writing control and signal processing software. I'm a bit over a year into being full time with a start up where I'm part owner (which is why I haven't had much time to woodwork lately). We do contract r&d on radio frequency systems.

[Spanky]

I grew up in logging, my dad logged, married into logging, my wife’s family logged and sawmilled. They still sawmill today, two of her uncle’s do. That makes me a poor working man.

[..Kev]

For those that don't know..  I work as the "Safety Guy" in refineries, power plants, chemical plants, etc..  Because I have to travel for work, I get some pretty cool opportunities to hang out with some of you..  I've met quite a few of you in person and have yet to have a bad experience.  

[JohnG]

I’m a Mr. Mom by day, Accountant by night. I’m self employed and do contract accounting, finance, and a bunch of other things for a group of private companies. 

[Art]

I'm a veterinarian.  I'm a partner in 2 clinics, working only on dogs and cats.  This is a second career for me, as I was in the military (Navy) for 10 years.  

If anyone ever has any questions about their pets, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to help.

[Chet]

I worked for a major food chain as a meat cutter and department manager for 32 years, retiring when I was 52.  I goofed around for a couple of years then had the opportunity to start a small business of my own making awards and doing engraving, that I operate from home. It is a pretty perfect situation in that it provides some pretty good disposable income, still lets me feel retired and do some traveling.  I don't have to punch a clock and the coffee is aways close by.

[wdwerker]

Cabinetmaker/custom woodworker. I started out doing handyman work after hours from my hardware store job.  When I realized college and an office job wasn't what I wanted I quit college & the hardware store and went full time doing repairs & remodeling as " Steve of all Trades " (son of a Jack ) . As my woodworking tool collection grew I sublet some warehouse space and transitioned to cabinets & woodwork.  Haven't had a boss or full time job since 1978.

[Just Bob]

Spent 44 years as a cop.  Been retired for 2 1/2 years.

[Dave H]

I worked as a carpenter from 1974 until I retired 3yrs ago, I started out building houses then built pole barns for several yrs went on to working for a company that owned office buildings I did TI's, remodels, and maintenance. Joined the carpenters union as a journeyman did that for 25 yrs until I retired I mostly did heavy construction building bridges, high rise buildings woodworking has been my hobby since high school I spend as much time as I can in the shop.

[Rapid Roger]

After High School I did 4 years in the Air Force (Air Police). Came home and got into drafting, ("T" squares and triangles before CAD)  for 4 or 5 years. 

Then got into sheet metal lay out work building grain elevator equipment for about 12 years (Loved the work, hated the boss.) Then I bought into my own business of being a mobile tool salesman (Mac Tools) that only lasted about 20 years before I retired at the age of 62. (I'm 74 now).  

Then got into hobby woodworking for 10 years or so and was forced to retire from that because of COPD. Now I'm just a grumpy old man yelling at kids to get off my grass...... and LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT ! Ha Ha.

If you can stop by, I would love to visit with you for a while but, I don't get out of bed before 6: AM and am in the rack by 11:PM so be warned.

[..Kev]

9 hours ago, Just Bob said:

Spent 44 years as a cop.  Been retired for 2 1/2 years.

Thanks for your service Bob!

[drzaius]

I've been an electrical contractor with my own business for about 26 years & been an electrician for over 40 years. Building is in my blood, be it structures or furniture.

[Cheeset202]

I am a Forest Engineer and I worked in the lumber business for a very large lumber company for 30 years, the last 18 years as a plant manager in four different mills in British Columbia, Alberta, Washington (state) and lastly Louisiana before retiring from big corporate at 55.   Moved to the Silver Valley in Idaho (Wallace) and now manage a small fiberglass plant making custom fiberglass components that we ship worldwide.  There are 3 of us that run the company and it is a blast, a major change from a big company.  When I stop having fun at this job I will permanently retire and build furniture full time.

[Cliff]

Senior software developer for an insurance company. 

[Coop]

2 hours ago, ..Kev said:

Thanks for your service Bob!

+1

[Coop]

I’m surprised to see that so far, there are no legal ( attorneys, judges etc. ) or medical folks on here that seek woodworking as a stress relief. Thanks to everyone for responding. I expect to hear from many more of you. 

[Chet]

Wade @wnaziri is a doctor,  surgeon actually if I am not mistaking.

[Chestnut]

Know I've mentioned i'm a Civil Engineer. Civil engs design a lot of things, sewer and water systems including water and waste water treatment plants, structures, roads, landfills and stormwater systems. We also work hand in hand with surveyors and design developments for commercial, industrial, and residential lots.  My work is split about 50/50 between design for small communities and plan and permit review for those small communities. My main focus is water resources and environmental design but have done a little bit of everything.