I got to thinking the other day, What would you do (as far as a job) if you got to do it all over again. I love my job and wouldn't trade it. It is very rewarding and I have made friends for life.

But... If I could do it over I think that I would have liked being a smoke jumper out west. That kind of work just appeals to me and my nature and it is in line with what I do right now. Granted, I would be making a third of the money that I make right now but it isn't always about money is it?

So how bout it? What would you do?

Britt

 

Hmm...what if we aint done it for the first time yet?LOL

 

I've been in construction for 35 years, I find it very rewarding even though I'm now in management. I originally got into the "trades" due to a lack of education and direction...I've found that even had I attended college I'd have ended up where I am...I despise an office setting and prefer the outdoors...no change!

 

I would be Jack Ryan or Jason Bourne



If ya dont know who those people are....Well...... I dunno Ok they're fictional but I would be the real-life personification of them

 

I don't know really. I love my job and (most) of the guys I work with are great, but being gone from home sucks, and the company I work for leaves alot to be desired as far as how they handle labor relations. But the insurance is paying for getting my daughter well. Kinda torn I guess. I've been thinking on that lately too, funny you brought it up. I'm a conductor for the Union Pacific RR by the way.

 

How is your daughter by the way?

Britt

 

College.

I never gave myself the chance at a real education. While I like what I do, and it is somewhat rewarding (okay, everyone else was using that word), my job is a job, I get paid as I go, no real paycheck per se'. That makes it tough sometimes, like say, NOW for instance! We are "net 30" so, with this time last month being Christmas, we are in a lull for checks comming in the past two weeks.

If I had it to do over again, I would probably still have gone through 6 jobs in the past 14 years. But having more options instead of humping, working 1.5 jobs @ 55-65 hours a week to make ends meet for the first 11 of those years would have been nice .

College, no matter if I never even DID what I went for, just for the experience.

 

I would have joined the Navy as an Officer became an Aviator and flew fighters off carriers, OR be an Army combat chopper pilot.
Fly anything commercially, if that didn't pan out.

Did I mention I would have been a pilot and fly?

 

Britt: She's doing great, had to have a blood transfusion the other day, but they were kind of expecting that at some point. Just kind of doing the same thing every week right now. Next bone marrow pull is in 2 weeks I think, will know more then.

 

Tell you what, I'll cut the BS.

My wife went through about 1.5 years of a two year Criminal Justice degree. I had an interest in Law Enforcement at the time, but knew I stood NO chance with my lifestyle the way it was. Most departments require two years "smoke" free, and they really don't want to hear about any other illicit use beyond that. So at that point, even if I passed the two year mark, I have several years of what some might consider hard core abuse in my past anyway?

Wife never persued anything in the field, I helped taint her chances over the years along the way too.

Now then, all clean and clear headed at about 30 years old I can't remotely afford to take a job in Law Enforcement. Crazy thing is my wife talks about a teaching career , same situation, who can afford to take a 50+% cut in pay to do something they think they would like?

I'm hell bent on making it right for my Son. He WILL have the chance to go to any College, Univ, Trade School, or apprenticeship he please. If we have to sell the house to do it.
He is made aware of his future choice(s) and does better in school that both his Mom or Dad EVER did (2 A's and 6 B's, just got the report card Monday)!

 

If my eyes were good enuff for a 2nd, or 1st class medical, I would have been a pilot. Even as a kid, loved airplanes. Would go out to the Cleveland Ohio airport. Now Cleveland Hopkins, and watch the planes. I could walk around the ramp and look at planes. Went to all the Cleveland air races.

Did get to use my personal airplane on the job I retired from. Since the flying was incidental to my job, not the primary job, I could do as a private pilot. Did get to fly coast to coast several times in the plane. My late 1st wife was also a pilot.

Wrote some flying articals for flying papers and magazines. Also was a search pilot in WA state.
Don't have a plane anymore.
I did get to fly, and live a small part of my dream.

Davey Private, SEL, Instrument.

 

I've been doing the same thing nearly all my life. My old man had already started the business 3 years before I was born so I've been helping out as long as I can remember. I was doing it summers from 10, part time through 18, and full time for the last 11 years. Now I finally have the chance to do something else and I think I'll take it. I'm working on something that will allow me to build street rods, customs and maybe a bike or two for a living.

 

To bad for the **** requirements to get that title! If not for the peice of paper that is the route I would have gone. Now my only option is to be sucessful and buy one for myself (the A/C I mean not the degree).

Right now I'm a little bored with my job and considering a postition change in the company. Or possibly going into some contract work abroad that will pay substantially better. I think I'll always have a wrench in my bag even if I do go to use my pilot half for profit.

Randy

 

I wouldn't change a thing.
I spent a year in college, got tired of school and enlisted in the Navy in '68. Didn't want to go Army because of Vietnam and because all my kinfolk had been Army. Went into the advanced electronics field because it was something I could use when I got out. Almost 10 years later I got out after 13 deployments, including 4 WestPacs(Vietnam), getting married and having kids. The priorities changed.
I went to work for the Army National Guard. The pay and bennies were good and mostly because the area didn't have much in the way of technology. I'm still with them. Got a few more deployments under my belt but more than anything, the job has given me a lot of self satisfaction. I feel like I have been able to make a difference. I'm able to take my experiences of the past 37 years and pass them on to the kids I deal with every day. Maybe it helps them do better in their jobs, but more than anything, I hope it helps them to survive the hell that many of then have and will face.
It's not the greatest pay, but it's more than adequate. Would I do the same thing again? In a New York minute!!!

Shortround out

 

If I could go back, I would change my life for the better, not the jobs I've had.