Who is your daddy and what does he do?

[Joe Geib]

I'm in the Municipal Management field. I am currently a Borough Manager for a really small borough here in PA. So small in fact that I do it all alone. That includes being Administrator, Treasurer, Grant Writer, Public Works (yes, plowing), and everything else in between.

I like to say I'm a 1-Man Show running a 3-Ring Circus.

[George Matthews]

Hi Sarah,

As you said in your great cook book 'Freezer Bag Cooking':

"Do not take what you do not like to eat."

That's a good philosophy to apply to our whole life.

I started my family very early (22) and we lived very simply at first. Quite poor but quite simple. It's ironic now that our kids are grown up that I find that I'm seeking the simple again. Not a return to poor, but to frugal enough to sustain a comfortable – yet simple – lifestyle. We're just about there.

When is your #2 due?

[George Matthews]

Hi Adam,

Have you checked:

http://www.usajobs.gov

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

The little one will probably come in early March. No set date as he is slated to be an early one like Ford was. So somewhere in the next 7 to 10 weeks. And no I am not ready ;-P

We have worked hard so that we can have family and as well at least have our house paid off by our early 40's (not far off!) We carry very little debt.

It isn't always easy and sometimes our eyes do wander and we covet those who go on 2 week vacations to exotic locales….but then we think about how much interest and years in debt to the mortgage company we can save instead. And go visit a NP instead ;-P

But I do agree with you on the simple life – I grew up in a rural poor life and find that maybe parts of it were not bad. The simple parts – the ones where my mom taught me how to can, to bake, to grow a garden and the simple childhood of running free. Though I am smart enough to know I'd rather not be poor again! That part I don't want. But in that circle I have my garden, I bake bread and enjoy the slower life once again.

[Joe Clement]

What's a borough?

[EndoftheTrail]

Sarah:

I can't wait to see pics of your second child!

*** Coming to your computer screen SOON! ***

[EndoftheTrail]

I started working last Monday as a consulting engineer. Too bad it's 500 miles from home.

Joe – I assume that means weekdays at the 'company town' and weekends at home? Or hopefully home once a month?

I did something similar for a year when I worked for Boeing in Renton (a suburban town next to Seattle). I flew up every Sunday night and flew back home every Friday evening (I live in LA). Not the easiest arrangement but I did rack up pretty impressive mileage.

I hope you are at least enjoying the work itself!

[Joe Clement]

Going home on weekends. Just have to start getting my Southwest reservations in. Hate working out of town, but…..had to do something, and they are sure making it worth my time!

[Joseph Morrison]

I am a concrete finisher. I have been doing it now for 8 years. It don't pay much but its honest, gradifying work. I actually enjoy it sometimes. Its great exercise to.

I have every weekend off and in the summer I can usually get off work in time on friday to make a three day, two night trip. In the winter time, especially this year I am off work more than at it. So long winter trips are possible, I just don't have alot of lightweight winter gear.

I can usually get off work a few times a year for longer trips I just need to schedule them far in advance. Now begging the fiancee to do so………. that is a little more difficult. :)

Joseph

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

Ya know Ben….I didn't know you were flying back and forth during that time! Geez! At least your narrow behind would have been comfy in those seats ;-) I remember you mentioning the Boeing thing when we hiked in Oregon.

Kirk is racking up a lot of miles these days for the company he works for. He enjoys/hates it at the same time. On one hand he gets to see new countries and be paid to be there…and then he hates being the tall man crammed into sardine can plane seats..lol! He does though like a good husband bring me home presents from said locals. And if someone doesn't bring me home a bolt of gold thread fabric from his next trip he will be in trouble ;-) But he enjoys his work. And that itself is priceless if one must work.

[Denis Hazlewood]

Retired since July 3, 2007. Before that I financed all of my passions working in Architecture and Civil Engineering. I loved my work and made it as creative an effort as possible. And… I got paid for spending other peoples money building cool stuff.

[Nick Gatel]

When people ask me this same question, it is hard to explain what I do, or what my company does.

I work for a global supplier of "outsourcing" solutions to automtotive manufacturers and their dealerships. And even I am unsure of what this means.

Basically I am involved in consulting/training services to auto/truck manufacturers and their dealerships. I manage a group of consultants, manage projects contacted by auto companies, build software applications, and do some instructional desgin work. My office is in Michigan.

What this really means is that I spend most of my time on a computer in my office, at home in Palm Springs; while gazing at Mt San Jacinto. I do have periods of extensive travel, as I am a "subject matter expert" in running automotive dealerships and other businesses, at least that is what I am told I can do :)

Since I telecommute, I have a large degree of control over my time, and completing projects on time is the main focus; not whether I am "on the clock." This does allow me more control of my time and opportunities to engage in outdoor activities, than most peope who work full time. And I often am able to work in my mobile office (a tent trailer) in some remote location away from people. My wife and I camp together around 100 days a year in our ten trailer, and I also get in my fair share of backpacking too.

And so now everyone still probably cannot figure out what I do. That's okay, I can't either :)

[Jack H.]

For a while now, I've worked to finance being a hiking bum. Tomorrow is my last day working the holiday season at one of the big name outdoor stores. Next week I go back to week on/week off guiding for a wilderness therapy program. Come the thaw, I'm hiking the CDT (and cross my fingers, getting paid for it). After that? Not sure. Perhaps back to wilderness therapy, perhaps buckling down and joining the rat race?

In the last four years, I've definitely worked less than one hundred weeks.

[Mark McLauchlin]

I work for a large energy (oil and gas) company and work a 9 day fortnight, so every second weekend is a long one for me. Bonus to that is I get out a lot more than I would otherwise, negative is it means the majority are solo, although not a bad thing, just good to have a bit of company now and then.

[Kathleen B]

Hi. My name is Kathleen and I'm a paralegal.

[Devin Montgomery]

In chorus: "Hi, Kathleen."

I feel like maybe this is a group of hikers with a working problem. :)

[Roy Staggs]

I retired at 54 about 6 years ago. I still work as a migrant nuclear worker for 4 to 6 months a year, basically to finance our next trip. Sometimes I work as engineering support/project management/oversight and sometimes an industrial safety specialist. I prefer the safety work because my life goal is now to reduce my stress level to “as low as reasonably achievable.“ My wife says that I will have to keep working as long as I insist on buying toys. Please stop me before I buy again!

[Anonymous]

Since graduating from art school, I've spend a few of my days in all kinds of trendy women's boutiques with vapid(this was a joke) shop girls and the pretty boys(they are pretty!) ;)

[EndoftheTrail]

Alex:

I live in LA and I don't think I've ever ventured into any "trendy boutiques with vapid shop girls and pretty boys"! That's the thing about our LA — it's so huge it's like a collection of many different 'worlds'.

Interesting though. I should start taking some "awareness tours" of my own city. Itinerary suggestions?

[Anonymous]

It was a little joke Benjamin ;)

Awareness tour itinerary: Urth Caffe. Great coffee!
I am sure you have no real interest in visiting trendy women's boutiques in your spare time… I only do it in hopes of paying the rent :)

[EndoftheTrail]

I see, you got me there. Methinks north of ventura lies outside "The Place".

[Larry De La Briandais]

Or sometimes referred to as simply computer programmer.

I work on a computer system that very few know about. It's the IBM mid-range system, originally know as the AS/400, aka System i, iSeries and IBM i.

Anyone even know what RPG is???

(And no, not Rocket Propelled Grenade or Role Playing Game ;^) )

And time outdoors is limited to weekends and vacations. But I do get a fair amount of vacation time, and my wife does also. :^)

[Gordon Towne]

I've heard of RPG, but don't profess to know much about it except that it's been around a long time.

[Mark McLauchlin]

Started my programming on the VAX and ALPHA, using a VL420 terminal.

[Jim Colten]

RPG: Report Program Generater

In the late-mid 60's IBM released the IBM 360 line of mainframes. There were several models offering different amounts of processing power within the same system architecture … except one, the model 20. The model 20 was completely different and was a low end system targeting those still using tabulating machine equipment like the IBM 402 and 407. RPG was a programming language designed for those who were coming from programming with wires and plug boards limited to tabular reports including totals and sub-totals.

I once read a humorous piece offering pithy short descriptions focusing on the weakest points of various programming languages. The title included the phrase reinventing the wheel and all the quips contained allusions to wheels. RPG's was along the lines of "Gives you all the wheels you need except the steering wheel"

[Author]

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