[jetjocky]

I've done a little bit of many things: I have done line work for the power company (in my 20s), galloped racehorses, ridden hunt horses, taken care of a beagle pack, was a librarian for 11+ years, wrote and did photography both as a freelancer and as magazine staff (for COTH way back in the day) and am now a Jane-of-all trades in my current position with a federal agency. Doing a lot of data analysis at the moment, but it could (and probably will) morph into something else given a bit of time.

[kathy s.]

In my former life I was a Locomotive Engineer for a major freight railroad. Currently, I am earning a Masters, running my husband's paint and body business, playing at Arabian horse photography, and writing children's books that teach young girls that they can make a good living working in a skilled trade.

[mojo7777]

High School Counselor

[Thoroughbred in Color]

My official title is Director of Human Resources, but in reality that is only a small portion of my job. I am also a heavy equipment operator, ski patroller, transportation compliance officer and vehicle mechanic for the company I work for. The same company that owns the ski area also owns a mortuary/cemetary, so I frequently pull grave digging duty and occasionally mortuary duty. I spent an entire summer doing groundskeeping there a few years ago.

Before I got promoted I was a ski lift mechanic for the same company, working at heights of up to 70 ft in the air on lift towers. Before I moved to a different town I was also a volunteer firefighter/emt.

[Frank B]

Retired process and control electrical engineer.

[hunt_jumpfl]

Just finishing my PhD and starting my "post-PhD" career in simulation-based training within the medical field.

[gieriscm]

IT contractor, mainly Oracle development and database administration as my day job.

At home I run two small businesses, one as a custom firearm manufacturer (07/C2) where my husband does the grunt work and I handle the books and money, the other business makes an accessory for motorcycles.

[twotrudoc]

WOW! What an amazing list of occupations!

[mroades]

yup, I am just a lowly H/J trainer and have been since I was 16 years old. 46 now, so 30 years in.

[JoZ]

I am a database marketing professional. I make junk mail possible! But I also make it appropriate, targeted, not overdone, etc.

It's a living and I'm good at it, but I definitely work to live, not the other way around.

[Long Spot]

Horse trainer currently taking time off from that to be able to spend time with my 15 month old boy.

Killing some time and making some money as a certified laser technician, using grade 4 medical lasers for hair removal, skin tightening, vein erasing, rosacea treatment etc etc etc.

[Eye in the Sky]

Psychotherapist - licensed, of course LOL! Own my tiny private practice - CEO of my LLC. Don't have or desire to have any employees. I will never gain wealth, but I do have peace.

[houndsRus]

Twotrudoc, love this thread. Thanks, great to hear what smart, accomplished lot we are.

In what has been called my "miss spent youth" I groomed, taught and managed. I've also worked in some tack shops. I've worked in health care and housing policy development, been a parish pastor and have spent the past many years as a hospital chaplain. Behavior Health and perinatal bereavement are areas of specialty, but I can and do work all over the house, esp the EDs and ICUs. I've got a Masters of Divinity, 1 & 1/2 years clinical supervision, completed a certificate program in religion and psychotherapy and am a Certified Thanatologist (CT), a specialist in grief and loss counseling and death education.

I love what I do. Everyday is different. I love trying to create a space where people going through the some of the most difficult times of their lives have the opportunity to encounter things which, though they can't change the situation, might help the person find encouragement and new meaning along the difficult path which lies ahead.

[Fourbeats]

University instructor of English, currently working on my Doctorate. I absolutely love my job. I love the students, the challenges, and the academic atmosphere. I love doing research and presenting papers at conferences. I'm working on several for publication and to me that's the icing on an already sweet cake.

Sure the pay sucks and sometimes the hours can be hard but I can honestly say I go to work each day with a smile on my face.

[coloredhorse]

I didn't vote in the poll because none of the choices seem a good match for my jobs.

I am lucky enough to be self-employed, with two businesses that are successful enough for me to be somewhat choosey about which clients I take on.

As my signature indicates, I am an equine massage therapist. My other business is as a freelance editor and writer, working mostly in scientific and healthcare industry areas.

[twotrudoc]

Awesome, hounds, awesome!

[Cataluna]

Senior Designer at an advertising agency. We primarily do creative for large pharma companies (Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson&Johnson, Eli Lilly, etc.) with a nice handful of less profitable, but highly creative accounts on the side to keep the studio happy .

[Chief2]

I checked Education on the poll but...

I am a piano and flute teacher, and began teaching when I was 17 years old--am now in my mid-fifties. I am also a freelance equine writer and spent about 15 years writing regular articles and business profiles for the Equine Journal, and later on for the Gypsy Horse Journal. Now that they have been sold to another publisher I have taken time off to see what I want to with the writing end of things. I am also a retired horse and farm sitter. Used to sit for commercial boarding barns, breeding facilities and some small farms. Cared for cats, dogs and birds as a sideline to that. All businesses are/were in the form of self-employment.

[mht]

I am co-owner of the family business, which just celebrated its 125th Anniversary! My day-to-day job is as manager & head short order cook at our dairy bar, and that part of the business just celebrated 50 years.

[Nipntuck]

Was a HR manager for a textile manufacturing facility and a boarding farm owner up 'til the kids were 3 1/2 and 1 1/2, then stay at home mom along with running our small boarding farm (10 horses). I went back to school 3 years ago and am now a part time RN along with the farm and enjoying two teenagers. I have to laugh, one of the CNA's when hearing that I have a BSBA, said "you could be in management!". Me - "No way!!" I like my little niche.