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Old 11-21-2014, 03:35 AM   #1
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Smile Unusual Occupations

Laughing Indian just gave me the idea for this thread.

I was a machinist and engineering technician.

Which is not unusual. Anybody else?
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Old 11-21-2014, 05:06 AM   #2
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i was, and still am a photographer. the only difference since retirement is that i make photos for me and not them....

p@
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Old 11-21-2014, 06:48 AM   #3
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Several occupations for me, went through GE's apprentice course as a maintenance machinist after college training as an automotive tech. Worked mostly part time maintaining a private estate for the singer Harry Belafonte. Did a couple years repairing and installing home heating equipment, and finally retired after 25 years as a heavy truck mechanic. So basically I know a little of everything and a lot of nothing !!
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Old 11-21-2014, 06:57 AM   #4
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Many decades ago my sister worked as a barmaid and one customer spent a long time explaining to her that he was a 'rogulator' - that is, someone who collects the special gas that is put into the bubbles in spirit levels.

This gas is used as it naturally coalesces into one bubble. He explained that this gas is hard to collect and that's why his job was so special.

Oh, you want to know what the gas is?

Goldfish farts.

And, yes, my sister did realise that she'd been had.
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Old 11-21-2014, 09:32 AM   #5
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The teaching part wasn't all that unusual, but the subject was - prior to retiring, I taught theatre sound design, electronics, and special effects at a NY state university. Designing special effects for the stage was often an interesting challenge.
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Old 11-21-2014, 10:09 AM   #6
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Nothing unusual here either. My company does custom renovating and home building. Pretty regular kinda stuff.
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Old 11-21-2014, 10:16 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Vermilye View Post
The teaching part wasn't all that unusual, but the subject was - prior to retiring, I taught theatre sound design, electronics, and special effects at a NY state university. Designing special effects for the stage was often an interesting challenge.

Jon are you also on the AVS forum??? We have a home theater and will be working on the sound system soon


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Old 11-21-2014, 12:31 PM   #8
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Operations Superintendent for deep sea cargo vessels.

Looked after everything related to the day to day movement of the vessels around the world from fuel needs, repairs, cargo loading and unloading, crewing and dock labour. Never a dull moment....24/7 on call ... anything from dealing with stow aways from eastern Europe, ships on fire while in the Panama canal, ships and senior crew under arrest in South America for possible drug transport, crew lost overboard in bad weather, hitting immovable objects such as the 49th street bridge in New York (funny enough I heard about that incident from a lawyer in NY offering me his services before I even heard from then ship about it), to dock labour (in an unnamed US port) who did not like working if it was raining out or there was a big football game on at the time

Would at times sail with them from point A to B while I sorted issues out. As a result have had the thrill of riding out a few storms that I would rather have just read the captains daily report as to how it went.

Originally nothing but straight forward cargos, such as wood or steel products and containers - mostly docking in NA, Europe and Japan. In later years things got interesting... more specialized challenging ships & cargo... anything from trains from Spain to various US states for transit use, Americas Cup yachts, ships full of orange juice from Brazil to Europe, large power transformers from Europe to the US.... due to the high value & weight of some of the cargo their was never a dull moment. ;-)

When I finished up I was happy to have seen various parts of the world but also happy to find my little trailer and enjoy more relaxing trips and see more of North America other than just shipping terminals & airports at 3 in the morning. :-)
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Old 11-21-2014, 02:43 PM   #9
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After mechanical and electrical engineering degrees, I finished out my career building automation so I wound up in software making all the automation and robots work. Built the first robotic assembly systems (1982) for Intel and installed 6 of them around the planet. Last job was in medical, manufacturing engineer for implantables (pacemakers and defibrillators) - very rewarding to meet users who are alive because of something I helped make. Retired 8 years ago at 56 and started my own biz building equipment to use making custom plastic stuff for trailers, which now includes boats and airplanes! Having a bunch of fun being semi-retired, plus I get to depreciate my latest asset (Escape 21) and write off every camping trip as a business expense since the signs on my truck always cause a sales demo to occur.

PS: First wife was also a chemical and civil engineer - we could complicate the heck out of any project!
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Old 11-21-2014, 02:45 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Meghan View Post
Jon are you also on the AVS forum??? We have a home theater and will be working on the sound system soon


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Nope. I haven't done much with home systems, if fact, I'm ashamed with my own home system. You know, the cobbler's kids don't have shoes.

Now if your home theatre seats 500...
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Old 11-21-2014, 03:52 PM   #11
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PS: First wife was also a chemical and civil engineer - we could complicate the heck out of any project!
Charlie, as soon as you mention the word "wife", it already becomes complicated.

*runs and ducks from the flaming reaction of all the (wonderful) wives out there*
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Old 11-21-2014, 05:20 PM   #12
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I have a strange career path but can actually explain it to make sense, but need a bottle of wine first. Red seal journeyman mechanic for 15 years, Safety training manager for 5 years and currently look after corporate learning for the largest energy company on Canada. Between these jobs I had a commercial photography business for 8 years, and a series of Human Resources jobs specializing in corporate downsizing and outplacement ... yes I was the axe man.
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Old 11-21-2014, 07:30 PM   #13
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I set up book/gift item displays in schools, and 7-8 days later I deliver ordered items and take down the displays. Route sales, self employment. Been doing this for over 20 years, and I still enjoy it. Some quiet driving time, some visiting with contacts and customers, some supervision of part time help (loading trailer and putting away freight), and no time clock to punch.

Previous work experience included sales of Harvestore silos, running a business that provided parts and service for silo unloaders, and route sales for Jewel Tea Co. Oh, and for one summer between college years I was "the village blacksmith" on Mackinac Island: despite the fancy title, really I just hammered names into souvenir horseshoes at the Village Blacksmith Shop.
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Old 11-21-2014, 07:43 PM   #14
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Events make a difference

Events happen that change your life. My dad died at a young age, 45, letting me know life was short. At that time I was 24 and made a list of everything I wanted to do in life and tried to do it all by 45.

Besides 'the list' I realized since life was short you could have more lives by having different careers and doing them intensely. As a result I took jobs in
different industries. Often I would start a company from scratch creating the product alone or with others, mostly small companies, taking one company public.

I had 6 different jobs, each lasted 5 years, typically with a rest year off between them. My education was in Physics. Usually my job included designing the product alone or with others. All my jobs were in technical companies beginning with doing research, writing software, designing electronic circuits and mechanical systems, and often managing the company.

Company products included 1. high speed plotters, photo plotters and cloth cutting systems, 2. electronic music studios and keyboard synthesizers, 3. drum synthesizers for rock stars, 4. high speed electrostatic black and white printer, 5. factory automation systems, 6. 500 ppm color printer.

During these years I was a 6 term mayor of a small town, built a geodesic dome home, and expanded our beach cottage.

In retrospect my life was too busy, I worked too hard and belonged to too much. When we sold the big house and moved into our 600 square foot beach cottage I vowed to myself not to get so involved.

Relatively shortly after our move to our beach cottage, another death led to a great life change. I was 58 and my college roommate died. I said to Ginny we're going to stop working, buy an RV and travel, something we had never done. Ginny said 'sure', thinking it would pass but she left her job a few days before we hit the road.

Outside of my marriage to Ginny, the birth of our two boys, RVing has been the best job ever, totally rejuvenating and as exciting as any project. We both say we'll RV until the kids rip the keys from our hands.
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Old 11-21-2014, 07:54 PM   #15
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I manufacture skis and snowboards. I'd guess that there's fewer than 200 of us doing this in the US (individuals not businesses). Not many jobs where you cram; steel, aluminium, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, rubber, UHMU and polyurethane into one item with no moving parts.
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Old 11-21-2014, 08:10 PM   #16
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I'm a Certified Child Life Specialist......any others???
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Old 11-21-2014, 08:12 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Magee View Post

Previous work experience included sales of Harvestore silos, running a business that provided parts and service for silo unloaders, and route sales for Jewel Tea Co.
Small world we live in - Jewel paid for my first semester of college as I was on the "management path" having worked for them through high school. Also lived in Janesville, Wisconsin - where Harvestore silos were made!
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Old 11-21-2014, 08:18 PM   #18
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I make toothpicks.----out of titanium.
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Old 11-21-2014, 08:20 PM   #19
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I make toothpicks.----out of titanium.
Don't know how one could possibly turn titanium on a lathe that small. Not going to believe this one.
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Old 11-21-2014, 11:09 PM   #20
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I had based my early life and career around an interest in nature and animals.
I had an Aquarium design and maintenance business for several years. Anything from a small tank in a dentist waiting room to 500 gallon reef set up in a bar.
That led me to working in a public Aquarium for a little over a decade. Designing and maintaining their freshwater displays. Transferring around at the Aquarium I had the pleasure of working with most of the fauna at one point or another. I attended an animal training school in Florida and returned to utilize those skills at the Aquarium for the last four years.
I've since moved on. It was a great life experience but a small future career. I still keep in touch with that aspect of my life by volunteering with the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society, bird watching, training my dog and of course.. camping!


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