How Many Tradesmen Here? What Type?

[Oregon]

Hmmm, well I was in the trades but didn't work the trades. I was co-owner (CFO) of fairly large electrical contractor. Little over 200 employees. Did everything in running the business except actually work at electrical. Did that for about 20 years (2 companies same business partner). Retired early, got bored and took position with Mortgage Bank (never did that before).
It wasn't...
retired again after three years. Now been retired for 7 years still enjoying life.
Good Luck to all that haven't retired yet and congratulations to those that have.

[valleyduo]

Carpenter for the past 20 years. Also a lot of experience with electrical, plumbing, and automotive work. Most of that is from learning to fix the things I broke over the years.

[LTDunltd]

Where to begin. Maintenance Tech for the most part. Job description includes;
Mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic,electrical, electronic tech, PLC programming, rigging, equipment install, machining, pipe fitting, fabricating, OJT trainer. Just a few.
I've been doing one or several since 1977.

[russhd1997]

I'm an automotive service technician. I've still got almost 4 years to reach full retirement. I've been working on cars since 1977 and have been working on Volvo cars since 1986. I have all of the ASE certifications and am one of the few expert certified Volvo technicians. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I retire but I don't plan on ever working for anyone else again.

[moose074]

Whatever I can find on You tube. Not in the trades but built moms house ground up. Little to no help do 90% of my own repairs on my cars, house but not Rv but I have made them when necessary

[Lifestylers]

Now retired, but many careers....Plumber straight after graduation. Estimator. Recession, required new skill not dependent upon ecomony. EMT, PARAMEDIC for large 911 county in Texas. Final, Real Estate, bought firm....Still have it but retired from active duty so to speak. Now professional don't know nothing but learning new skills daily as owner of 2015 Berkshire 40 XL DP. May be the hardest job yet.....

[Blackrock]

Retired Master Mechanic with ASE Master certs in automobile and heavy truck plus truck equipment. Thirty one years turning wrenches with a little construction, truck driving and farming.

[Turtle47]

Heavy equipment operator mainly beginning in 1977. 25 years Army and held a few MOSs. Environmental health specialist, motor transport operator, quarry specialist, construction supervisor, NBC NCO, operations NCO. Retired from the Army in 2001, helped older brother establish a drainage business for 5 years, worked for the state highway department as a foreman, was grounds maintenance supervisor at a military base, and retired from there last November.

[Aspendog]

Member International Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners 1966 - 1971.

[tomkatb]

Finish carpenter summers.

Construction engineer, construction superiendent, and engineering supervisor.

Worked in charge of trades for 30 years.

[DonD]

Hmm... Guess I'm in a different trade.

I'm a Chef. Own a banquet hall and a catering business.

Have a long time til retirement. One youngling in college, one youngling is a freshman in a private HS that costs as much as college.

[robbiels7]

I would say yes still a trade. Your a hard working individual and come home wearing your work just like the rest of us.

Originally Posted by DonD

Hmm... Guess I'm in a different trade.

I'm a Chef. Own a banquet hall and a catering business.

Have a long time til retirement. One youngling in college, one youngling is a freshman in a private HS that costs as much as college.

[AquaMan]

Spent the last 38yrs doing one job (so to speak) as a polisher in the tool & die industry. Have done work for just about every worldwide corporation in automotive, aerospace, medical, consumer..., the list goes on. Have also built performance engines, done home contracting/remodeling, built inground swimming pools, and now dabbling in cabinetry, all on the side. I still have a ways to go before retirement, tried it a couple years ago, but son didn't want to take over the business and still have 12yr old at home.

[Donlock]

Locksmith and safe and vault tech for 40 years and a machinist before that,and before that I was a estimator for contractors and supervising million dollars contracts.
Don

[Izzymovin]

I worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad for 28 years and the Union Pacific bought the SP and worked twelve years for them...40 total. Lousy hours, but better than working for a living. Now I RV when the wife lets me out of the house...)

[Flat_twin]

Retired telco technician and Union officer for many years. Watched a large utility company go thru many changes over the years (decades!). From party lines to broadband. Enjoyed it all but was very ready to move on as more and more young inexperienced managers came on board who had never touched or cared to learn about the outside plant.

[bigb56]

Lots of carpenters and plumbers here I noticed, which is what you have to be to own one of todays RVs!!! I am a small electrical contractor very close to retirement but business is booming and it's tough to give up all that income!

[Preacher Dave]

Started out as a laborer for chemical manufacturers, trained and was Coast Guard licensed as a Merchant Marine tankerman for the Petro-Chrmical industry for loading and off-loading barges and tankers. Switched to being a pipe fitter and that led me to the power industry where I worked for over thirty years as an Operating Engineer, Control Room Unit Operator, and Supervisor of multi unit power plants. Retired as a plant manager. Couldn’t stay retired and went back to work for seven years as a Construction Project Manager for plant projects,. Health issues caused me to wake up and decide and I didn’t want to go from working one day to the grave the next, so I have been retired for 18 months and now am learning how to enjoy myself doing something other than working.

[cfo111]

DonD boy bet camping next to you would be smelling food all night yummy

[roadrunnermoore]

Elevator Mechanic since 1982, looking forward to retirement in the next couple of years so we can travel more.