What's Your Occupation?

[psychocycle]

I have been doing land surveys all across Canada mostly in Ontario and Alberta for the last 30 years. Don't go to the field much anymore but I was in Saskatchewan last week doing some GPS work just east of Woolsley. I am now the program coordinator for the FNLM Initiative for First Nations across Canada. Love my job and hope not to retire for a long time yet, besides I'm way to young. Spent ten years as a head coach for a club soccer team and got to travel across Canada to Nationals - a great experience. :)

[ercbf]

I am lead technician and team leader at a large GM dealership in my area. Mostly, working on Chevy's. Been there for almost 12 yrs now.

[mercianbike]

Retired Meteorologist, U.S. Air Force.

Retired Contractor, Lockheed Martin, supporting FAA weather programs.

[magoo]

Worked for a global paint company for over 28 years in commercial, industrial and retail sales. Final 10 years sales and marketing director for our Consumer Division selling to the large retailers in Canada, Home Depot, Rona, Wal Mart and Canadian Tire. Left 3 years ago a started up my own Sales and Marketing company providing in-store merchandising services through 50 employees and developing new programs and processes for the large retailers and suppliers. Before starting my own company I rode about 5,000 kms per year...now about 15,000 kms per year. Working for myself is much more enjoyable and my time is much more flexible and allows for more time on my bike.

[audiogooroo]

Audio Engineer. Currently working as a System Design Specialist for Audio Analysts which provides Performance Audio Systems for touring acts (have a client list a mile long that everyone would know some of) and also designs and installs Performance Audio, Video and Lighting Systems all across the Country. Spent 15 years as a Professional Musician while engineering audio part time. Always knew that one day I wouldn't be young and pretty and no one would want to see me on stage, so had to have some skills behind the scenes! :)

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Well, this is a long list. Started off picking cotton when I was about six and this was long before the invention of cotton pickers as we know them today. Did this every fall until I was about 15.

When I was almost 16 I was in the movies, I was the doorman at a local theater. That means I took your tickets after you paid and I tore them in half and gave half back to the customer. Did this until I was 18.

Started to a local Junior College and majored in business management. Did this for two years then Uncle Sam came calling.

Well actually before Uncle Sam I worked in the meat market while I was in college. Worked two years cutting meat and grinding hamburger meat at local Piggly Wiggly store.

Now back to Uncle Sam. I had my physical while I was in College, December 1966. One day the lady that was in charge of the local draft board came in Piggly Wiggly and she saw me behind the meat counter. She called me aside and wanted to know if I was trying to get in any branch of the service. I told her I was trying to get in the Navy. Believe me during Vietnam it was easy getting in the Air Force or the Navy. She said I just wanted to let you know that your name is up for the April call. This was in January or February of 1967. I got sworn in the Navy 120 day delay program March 17, 1967 and went on active duty July 11, 1967.

Took Navy basic at Great Lakes, IL and then Class A school at Newport, RI. After my school I was assigned to The USS Massey (DD778) out of Newport, RI. Cruised the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranian Sea for almost four years.

After I returned from the Navy I worked for Piggly Wiggly again. Then built mobile homes. Sold life insurance for five years. Worked for Wagner making brake parts for automobiles for a year.

Drove an 18 wheeler for about a year making runs from Alabama to California, Idaho, Utah, Washington, Oregon and Arizona.

February 13, 1979 I joined the US Army and spent the next 16 plus years being all I could be. Retired as an E-7 May 31, 1995.

After that I worked for a local Ace Hardware for two years. Sold Ford parts at a local Ford dealership. Installed and repaired tanning beds for two years. Then went to work for Siemens as a machinist for the next nine and a half years. Retired from Siemens January 1, 2009.

That brings us to the present. I do nothing but ride my Nomad or get on the computer. This is the longest I have ever been without a job. Must say it is the best job I have ever had. Well when I was a kid I enjoyed being a kid. That was lots of fun. I keep trying to go back to being a kid but they say I am too old.

Gene Cross, Jr
Boaz, Alabama

[landman]

i spent four years with the army security agency where i held a
top secret crypto security clearance and did two tours of duty
in viet nam.worked for general motors for twelve years but was
laid off after the terex heavy equipment division went under.for
the past 25 years i have been a real estate broker and developer
specializing in recreational acreages.

[sarge1057]

Dishwasher, short order cook in high school, 4 years in the Marines, constructing, chimney sweep and finely a Dental technician/laser welder for the past 20 years. And I forgot to mention Married for 22 years its the best and also hardest job.

[macmac]

I have done lots of things for hire. Started out too lazy to be a news paper delivery boy, so instead I dug clams..

Worked as a oil monkey for old smash yer hands printing presses, then went into more modern printing.

Couldn't afford to pay mechanics, so I became one.
Work on anything that had a spark plug at one time or another.

Then tried my hand a diesel engines, one large enuff a skinny lad could climb inside of to scrap carbon depostis. That was probably the dirtiest job i ever did.

Went to little diesels on tracors dozers and fright hauling stuff, and didn't like them.

Moved south, and did a stint working for boat companies, making fiber glass decks, and hulls, and installing engines.

Built "Tiki" bars for a suntan lotion co a while, which ended up in more fiber glass for boat parts, swimming pools which I ram rodded into the ground, and making to install floating docks. Some of that included scuba working under water.

Did a year building truck springs and installing them. That place was sweat shop, and at times in winter the tide would flood the bays knee deep.

Worked on every Euro foreign car there was to 85', and some others I had never heard of myself from other places in the world.

Did hoss ranglin drove teams, did trail rides, and other B&B labor. taught down hill skiing for a school, and xc for the B&B plus did anything at all for that B&B.

Worked in the woods a while as a feller (Cutting down trees)

Worked as a house painter, a frame up capenter too.

Worked as a clerk on a gun store, and surveyor helper.

Used to say I could fix anything except wrist watches, computers and Broken Hearts, but since then I have fixed all 3, but not too many.

I got hurt pretty bad in 87' and getting work since then hasn't been easy. What that means is I now work for me as best I can, which isn't getting me rich by any means.

Been so long now I have other ways that to buy all of what i want. I tend to buy used and or broken things.

In fact I have never had a brand new bike once.

These days my ambitions run along the lines of a Diesel fit her.

There is a slew of other things I tried my hand at in other centuries, and still do many of these as well.

I taught my self to make Trade Silver, and made many of the tools myself, and would still make the stuff, other than I don't believe anyone will pay for the silver after I make it.

I learned how to make mocs, leggings trousers, trade shirts, weskits (a vest), frock coats , blanket coats, hats, mittens, flintlock guns, knives to sell once, and any leather work, since none of these things can be found in walmart.


Pretty much if I want something I make it or buy it broken.

(Looking for a broken garden tiller)

[NyhtRyder]

For the last 16 years, I've spent my time as a woodworker/supervisor for a spa manufacturing company. Most of the more than 30 years of my woodworking experience has been building cabinets and custom furniture.

[garyo4]

Been working in the oil industry since 1974. Started as a machinist with Gulf Oil and then transferred into the Operations department. I've spent time working in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Houston and the UAE (Abu Dhabi) during my time.
Currently (for last 11 years) working 200 miles offshore on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland working a 21/21 rotation aboard a FPSO (floating, production, storage, offloading). I come out here (currently off shore), work 21 twelve hour shifts and then go home for 21 days off.

[petenomad]

Been writing software for small devices for about 20 years. Previous employers made industrial control products and airline ticket and baggage tag printers. Currently work for navigational device maker based in Olathe, KS founded by two guys named Gary and Min.

[ridemslow]

I drive tractor trailer for a living. I'm usually gone 5 days a week.

[Kawhead]

I turn wrenches for a living. I cain't afford nothing new neither. I do make enough to have mustard and biscuits once or twice a week. Mac, I bought two old tillers and made one out of 'em, an you welcome to the other if you godda use for it. Otherwise, I mona get shed of it.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...41/Cangkul.jpg

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by Kawhead

I turn wrenches for a living. I cain't afford nothing new neither. I do make enough to have mustard and biscuits once or twice a week. Mac, I bought two old tillers and made one out of 'em, an you welcome to the other if you godda use for it. Otherwise, I mona get shed of it.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...41/Cangkul.jpg

Mustard and biscuits? ???