What Does Everyone Do to Earn a Living?

General Discussion
1

I’ve seen some interesting posts here as far as what our members do for a living, or what you are interested in. Passions if you will…

I love to share my own experiences, and learn from others. Especially on topics or skills I know little about,

After high school in Illinois I moved to Phoenix with my girlfriend, now my wife, to attend aircraft mechanics school. I graduated #1 in my class and was voted Best Mechanic by the instructors.

I promptly moved to Seattle, Everett actually, for a solid career in aircraft manufacturing and/or maintenance.

That was a bust, and humbling. Number one in my class, unable to quickly secure a good job. I left within 6 months.

In 1993 I moved back to Illinois and got a job with Caterpillar in early 1994 manufacturing parts, equipment, and machines headed to dealerships for sale. We were the OEM. I didn’t work for a dealer, but rather Caterpillar Inc. We made the parts, and new machines headed to dealers. This gave me a solid background in welding, manual machining, NC, and CNC machining.

I left Caterpillar seeing where that industry was headed, and moved to Virginia in 2004 to be closer to my family, who had relocated there. I went to work for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, working on prototype weapons and weapons systems for all branches of the military.

Best job of my life. Hands down.

I lost that job in 2010 during that last part of the Great Recession. I went in to work on a Tuesday, and they let 60% of our shop go on that day.

I ended up in Colorado working for Union Pacific Railroad repairing accident damaged locomotives. Worst job of my career. I stayed 5 years to get a pension, and I was out.

I now work for a public utility as a substation mechanic, doing machine, mechanical, and welding work ensuring that our customers have electricity.

I’d love to hear about your experiences, and passions.

Mine is tile and stone. My first fireplace…and master bath shower I’m finishing up.

I’d love to hear about everyone’s careers, and passions.

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I’m self employed according to uncle sam. I earned a B.S. in Comp Sci in 2003, got my masters in 2007 and doctorate in 2020.

But in reality I just play on these here forums.

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Hardwood lumber sales in Central TX. It has never been glamorous, always been stable, but the last year and a half its been…interesting.

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I served in the US Army for 26 years-1988 to 2014 (Rifleman, Cannon Crewmember and Transportation Officer by trade) I had many highlights in my career: Shooting stuff and getting shot at, Gun Truck Operations, several tours in the always sunny middle east and getting my Commission-Best job I ever had. Now retired, I am a professional pooper scooper to an old Cocker Spaniel and everyday grocery getter. I spend my time still shooting stuff at the range and attempting to be a good well trained husband (that’s hard). :metal:

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Well as much as I hate to admit it I am a whore. I prostitute myself 24/7 to my sugar momma. She is insatiable. No matter how much I work it is never enough. She always wants me to work more. Now as I get older I don’t mind telling my sugar momma to take a hike. Sugar momma pays well but she is one cruel b****h. Looking forward to retirement when I can tell sugar momma where she can stick it. She can find someone else to do her dirty deeds done dirt cheap.

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Hey, a guy has to eat right? I know. When my back aches or I catch a cramp it’s in the FK’N corner I go. Gotta stay hydrated. :laughing:

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You know how bankers are known for being dirty trickster swindlers?

I’m the guy who writes the documentation instructing them how to do it.

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4 years in NAVY as Engineman (diesel mechanic), next 23 years as diesel mechanic/technician.

the last 14 years as an instructor for the largest class 6,7 and 8 truck OEM training technician how to work on class 6,7 and 8 trucks/diesel engines.

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Fire sprinkler fitter/foreman here. Graduated high school in 2013 with a pregnant girlfriend, so though it wasn’t my first choice I had to get straight to it whatever I could get into. LOL. Soooo 8 years later now we’re married and 4 kids deep! lol

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I make a lot of sawdust. Not getting rich, but I set my own schedule and there is something to be said for that ability.

Midwest Custom Woodworks.

18

Thats a good question… one my wife asks continually :rofl: I buy and sell stuff, usally work vans, boats, RV’s and autos. I’ve tried working for someone else many time’s and just cant do it, I usually wind up bumping heads with management, sometimes I’ll do a bit of carpentry on the side with my brother in law who’s a full fledge master carpenter, but trust me I’m more of the gopher then the carpenter. it’s not a glamorous life but it pays my bills

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Thank you for your service good sir :pray:

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my hats off to ya, youve done some intresting stuff

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Well being honest I joined the military right out of high school. I spent a total of 12 years between the Army and the Guard. Spent some time in a big sandbox. Luckily our toys were better than the other sides toys. Went into LE for a few years. I enjoyed the job but the pay was killing me. Finally I ended up at the Railroad. Been at the Railroad now for 23 years now as an Engineer. The Railroad pays well but it is a gilded cage. You sacrifice time with family and friends because you are working all the time. If you are offered a job at the Railroad all that I can say is don’t do it. Don’t walk away but run away it isn’t worth it. Being on call 24/7 with no off days, working every weekend, 50 to 60 hour work weeks and working 12 hours every day. Before all those issues when you start at the Railroad you are subject to being furloughed from work and having to go to work at other locations because you don’t have enough seniority to work at home. This can last for years. The Railroad industry has drastically changed in my 23 years and I can honestly say it isn’t for the good.

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Haha yeah it’s pretty tough sometimes, luckily as babies they have all been really good/easy kids (the oldest is only 7 so there is alot of time for that to change! Lol) relatively speaking, and also my wife is pretty kick ass at being a mom so that makes it easier too! Lol

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Sorry to hear about your RR experience. Over 28 years here working in the track department and very happy. Admittedly a much smaller operation than UP, though, so maybe that’s the difference. Very impressive stone and tile work, by the way. My hobbies (aside from firearm-related) tend to center around the automotive world - mostly body and paint.

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Surface miner… running 374 cat all day eastern n.c.

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You’ve got a pretty interesting background. I bet you’ve worked on some pretty cool projects. I myself live in Savannah, GA and work for Gulfstream Aero laying out the stripes pre-paint. It’s a cool gig. Ive been a senior automated equipment tech, fabricator, and welder for 8 years at Gulfstream as well, until my layoff in 2015. Prior to my G-Stream days I worked in Florida doing underground plastic welding in sanitary sewer lift stations and storm drains. I found that job when I worked as a heavy equipment repair tech and operator for a precast concrete business that contracted with the company in Florida. Thanks for sharing!

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FF retired 10 years.
Saw some things.

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