Worked at car washes, then a marina(that was good job),then a gov't job~~3yrs-Army.. 2yrs in Vietnam 69-71(pissed my pants a few times).. Hon. discharge, and odd jobs that sucked after military service. I now work in a steel mill making ''specialty'' steel~~valve,stainless,tool,and things like that. I'v been there 35 yrs with super benefits.It paid for my operations. I will be 59 in Feb. Can't retire yet <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Work sucks~ sailin's Great. Oh well !!!

Starting boating on the Monongahela river in West Virginia, outboard racing at 11. later, B stock hydros and C runabouts. First real job, putting up hay and other jobs on Grandfathers Farm in the summers. BSME West Virginia University followed by 40 years at Johnson Controls in Sales and Sales Management, http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/publish/us/en/products/building_efficiency.html Concurrently, 2 1/2 years in the US Army on active duty, then 5 1/2 yrs Ready Reserve, left as Captain. Retired from JCI in 1999. Now giving back, volunteering at Sail Sand Point in Seattle, and several other worth while organizations.

Caleb Tarleton

Deckhand on a scallop boat, bank clerk, car parts shop manager, radio announcer, news journalist, two stressful years (on the other side of the mike) as a political media advisor. The last 15 years, most enjoyably, doing science research based PR for a government department.

I hope to graduate this year with a Masters in PR, only 30 years late.

I really like the in-cabinet lighting and the color of those cabinets! I'm planning a kitchen remodel and that will be considered in the plan now. Thanks Karl!

Caleb, I worked for Johnson for 10years. I ended up as a project manager. Then went to Trane for a few years, got recruited to be a sales manager for a HVAC rep firm, started my own rep firm, closed that(stress,taxes & slow payers).
I am now the Maintenance Superintendent for Onondaga County Parks. Much more secure, less stress(and money) and good benefits.
The general maintenance workers, carpenters,plumbers and electricians work for me. Their jobs are as important as any and day to day things would not run without them.
When the toilet won't flush, the water isn't on, the roof is leaking or the lights are out, they are the most important guys we have.
I to have spent time in sewage ejector pits fixing pumps <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Get out your checkbook. I charged $15k for that kitchen just in cabinets.

MSc. Geology: Work in construction dewatering and treatment.

It's the state fish of Hawaii. I think it was chosen, somewhat as a joke, for its ridiculously long name. It's small, but very colorful (like a Hobie Wave). You can even buy t-shirts with the fish on them. My wife and I have seen several humuhumunukunukuapua'as while snokeling there.

Body Double

Also known as the Picasso Trigger Fish

Now there is an idea for a paint job.

Well I used work on underwater explosives (mines) for the USNAVY, and built them up for war time (as needed)... but I hated the BS so I got out and went to school

Pre Law / Economics (with a minor in music). Which lead me directly into ... LOL apartment painting.... That is where I met a guy going to art school for Interactive Computer Design and animation. I absorbed everything he and his friends could teach me and went for a few semesters myself. I was recruited from school (during the DotCom explosion)and became a Search Engine specialist / production monkey.

That has leaded me to my current position (after surviving the dotcom bubble burst and many other jobs) as Marketing Director for 3 medical companies. that is a VERY glorified title for a webmaster/salesguy/designer/scapegoat.

I got my undergraduate degree in physical therapy in the Netherlands, and moved to the USA in 1989 with my wife Jacqueline, who also is a PT (no jobs there, plenty here!). While practicing here I went back to graduate school, first for a masters in PT and then for my doctorate in education. A couple of years ago a made the switch from clinical practice to full-time teaching in a PT program.

I work in the pharmaceutical industry creating and maintaining databases to store and analyze clinical trial information.

Sounds more exciting that it really is.

Before that, I was a IT Support type dude at the university, a building facilities/events worker (setup tables and chairs for functions), a grocery store store accountant, a landscape worker (yes I did dig ditches), a bicycle repairman, a busboy at a restaurant, a school tutor... what else... I can't remember anymore.

My first stab at entrepeneurship was dealing drugs in the 70s. Small stuff -- just enough to live on. That worked till I got busted! Through the 80s and 90s I tried a few "real" jobs but couldn't get the hang of it. Even tried one gig for 5 years with a corporation. What a waste of 5 good years!

I've always made just enough money to "get by" on our relatively simple lifestyle. Early on I realized that there was an infinite amount of money, but only a finite amount of time. I decided right then and there that time was way more valuable than money, and went off pursuing experiences at the expense of making money! If I had to do it all over again, I'd keep it just that way.

I take personal responsibility for getting my crew to quit her job of 40 years! And a good percentage of my friends are either unemployed or unemployable...or both!

When it is all said and done and you are lying there on your bed watching the lights go out, you gotta ask yourself are you gonna be grateful for that extra sale your closed or that extra gig you landed, or are you gonna wish you had spent more time with your kids or more time on the sailboat. I choose the latter...every day!

Very true Peter!

I'm a semiprofessional race car driver and an amateur tattoo artist.
Actually I’m a Mechanical Engineer PE designing building systems.

I'm fascinated, Peter! How did you convince your crew to stop working?

The corporation she was working for -- a manufacturer of airplanes here in Seattle (but who shall remain nameless!) -- was just like most corporations. They get the workers thinking that they absolutely have to keep working until they die or are no longer needed by the corporation. Usually it is the latter!!

I just started pickling her thinking into a different direction. Basically she and her husband already had plenty of money to live on the rest of their lives. It was pretty obvious to me. She started doing some research, and the more she dug, the more she realized I was right. I mean after that many years in the 'system', there better be a nest egg!!

So she up and quit. Actually she arranged a 3-year temporary leave of absence so she could officially 'retire' without losing any benefits. Two months later her husband did the same thing!

She is stressing right now as she adjusts to living without a regular income. This is a pretty typical stage I have seen lots of retired folks go through. It usually lasts about 6 months. Heck, I went through it, and I didn't even have a regular job!

But in a couple of more months she'll come back out on the other side and wake up one morning realizing she is just fine. The sky ain't gonna fall. She ain't gonna end up in a ditch. And her lifestyle is gonna take a huge leap forward! Actually, that part has already happened. She is waaay more relaxed (even as she stresses!), and is much happier.

started my first company at 15 sold it to go to University!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Ended up in Medicine but swiftly jumped into developmental neurology and research. Left that after the paperwork time became more than the surgery time. Started another business and gave it to my sister and brother after listing on the Au stock market?? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> so I am now currently listing 3 multinational businesses..

Hey never said I was smart!!