What do you do for a living?

**Clockwork John** · 9th April 08, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by JRB

Curse the failing economy!!! I just got laid off. I've been working as a custom boatbuilder for the past 3 1/2 years and orders at my shop have finally dried up to the point that they could no longer support their workforce. Five out of six boatbuilders were let go. The last one left is only going to be around long enough to finish the remaining order and then he's gone. I'm really depressed. I live in Albany, NY so there isn't much prospect for finding another boatbuilding job. I suppose I'll have to start searching for a new career. It was fun while it lasted, however.

Bummer. I'm sorry to hear that.

**ardchoille** · 9th April 08, 04:04 PM

I am an ordained minister and counselor.

**Hendry** · 9th April 08, 04:40 PM

I'm a Land Surveyor/Mapping Tech/Survey Coordinator... currently working Quality Control for Geographic Information System data for an e-services company serving primarily Gov't, real estate and legal professionals.... I like to refer to myself as a data corruption specialist .... creating work for generations to come.

**Mael Coluim** · 9th April 08, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by JRB

Curse the failing economy!!! I just got laid off. I've been working as a custom boatbuilder for the past 3 1/2 years and orders at my shop have finally dried up to the point that they could no longer support their workforce. Five out of six boatbuilders were let go. The last one left is only going to be around long enough to finish the remaining order and then he's gone. I'm really depressed. I live in Albany, NY so there isn't much prospect for finding another boatbuilding job. I suppose I'll have to start searching for a new career. It was fun while it lasted, however.

Sorry to hear this, Jay. I know your pain. This can lead to better things. The economy will turn around and people will be spending again. Your skills and experience can be parlayed into a new direction.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 9th April 08, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by JRB

Curse the failing economy!!! I just got laid off. I've been working as a custom boatbuilder for the past 3 1/2 years and orders at my shop have finally dried up to the point that they could no longer support their workforce. I suppose I'll have to start searching for a new career. It was fun while it lasted, however.

It's not really about a failing economy. Rather it's a thing called market saturation, something that happens when everybody who wants a specific durable item (like a custom boat or classic car) has one. Literally, there are no more customers. Usually this is a short-term situation. Hobby items (like cars and boats) generally attract a new "audience" or market on a seven year cycle-- this "market churn" means that the kind of custom boat (or classic car) that is commercially viable changes every seven or so years. Seven years ago you couldn't give away "Muscle Cars" at auction; now they regularly break six figures. Hot Rods are on the rise, and 60s sports cars are static. The same is probably true with boats. You are experiencing a shift in the market, not a collapse in the economy.

If you like boats, and are looking for a new career, try Florida. At least the weather is nice! Good Luck!

**Bugbear** · 9th April 08, 10:39 PM

Well, for what it's worth, I also grow food for african sulcata tortoises. That would be special grasses, leaves, and cacti. Pesticides do quite a bit of dammage to the torts, so all my crops are grown without chemical pesticides and so on. It doesn't require much land area, so it's a back and front yard operation.

I also propagate a lot of these plants for the people who have the torts to use in their own yards, for example, grape vines for the leaves. Most people find it easier to have me grow and collect the crops though because of the pesticide issue, and the spines on the cacti. I don't raise the torts, but they seem to be a popular pet out here in the desert.

* I should clarify, the sulcata tort crops were an end result of my research into desert crops for people food crops.

Guess something good came of it.

**Mr. Kilt** · 10th April 08, 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by Surly Dave

Kind of an update: I've been working in the sign industry for the last few years, but recently started doing stand-up comedy! I've been religiously working on my act, which is why I haven't been hanging around here much lately.

I don't think I'll be doing a HBO special anytime soon, or quiting my 'day job', but I'm having fun.

That is too cool!! I've always wanted to try stand-up but have never had the nerve.

**katmills2005** · 10th April 08, 05:08 AM

Sorry to hear about the layoff, Jay. Keep your chin up. I've always believed that things happen for a reason. Perhaps the career change will turn out to be better than you could have expected.

As for me, I'm a personal assistant. My boss is a newspaper columnist, author, singles coach and former recording artist. I do everything from her accounting to walking the dog. Its a bit of a challenge some days, the pay isn't the best, but I get more time with my kids, the bills get payed and I enjoy what I do.