One day i would like to change careers and am willing to go back to school to do what it takes. I am curious about the jobs you all have, the sort of people that love the outdoors/country like i do.

Who here feels satisfaction with the career they've chosen and feels it complements the country lifestyle you live? And, what career is that and what kind of education did it require if any (& if no education, how does one go about getting into that particular field).

-- Buk (noadd@sickofspam.com), February 17, 2002

Answers

I'm a teacher. There are all kinds of recertification programs with adults with life experience. I have the whole summer off, with pay. Who can beat it?? haha My hubby runs heavy equipment, comes in handing to have a 943 track loader to bring home and move a rock or two. And a track hoe to dig a puddle or two. lol lol

-- julie (jbritt@ceva.net), February 17, 2002.

Nurses and teachers (especially in the sciences) can pretty well find employment anywhere.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), February 17, 2002.

I love my job!! I am a Registered Nurse; I work in a 200 bed hospital 27 miles from my home, which serves mostly rural communities. My normal schedule is from 7 pm to 7:30 am; 3 shifts per week; however there are always plenty of opportunities to work extra shifts - 4, 8 or 12 hours. I could have moved to day shift long ago; but I am allergic to neckties. (Or maybe just to people that wear them!) This is a job that is in demand; as we are in a national nursing shortage. Pay is good - $42,000 for me this year with the overtime and bonuses thrown in.

My nursing skills easily move to the farm - just yesterday a friend stopped me at the farm supply store and asked if I'd like to come over and give her horse an IM injection! The fact that I can work as little as three shifts a week gives me tons of days off to do whatever I want around the farm; plus since I work night shift, I can also get some things done during the days that I work the nights of. At 43, I'm not too tired when I get home after my 12 1/2 hour shift plus 40 minute commute to do feeding chores for a few critters.

In my home state, an Associate in Applied Science degree (community college) is required for an RN - some states require a BSN, however. Working full time in a factory (night shift; 11 to 7), it took me three years to complete my nursing degree. I was 40 when I graduated. It was a miserable three years, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Hubs is a motorcycle mechanic, which comes in awful handy on the farm for keeping equipment tuned up and running; and Pop is a retired electrician - very handy to have around!! Throw in Unc, who's been a Case/IH wrench monkey for 30 years now....heck - all I need is a cleaning lady and I've got it made!

-- Polly >^..^< (tigger@moultrie.com), February 17, 2002.

I'm with Ken (and others) on this one. Science teachers (and maths if you've got it) are in demand anywhere these days - business degrees have made science degrees an endangered species, but we need them for teachers. If I'd followed up on my science studies, instead of falling into computers, I wouldn't have been sentenced to an unnecessary thirty years in the city.

Nurses are also in demand, and with an aging population nursing is a growth industry. As a comment for younger people, nursing is in demand worldwide - it's a good way to do working holidays overseas. The same applies to science degrees, but not necessarily to education qualifications.

-- Don Armstrong (from Australia) (darmst@yahoo.com.au), February 17, 2002.

Now there is an even greater opportunity to obtain various certifications and degrees through the internet. A little known fact is that military personnel have for many, many years used external degree programs, such as the one offered through the Univ. of the State of New York to obtain legitimate degree.

From a Ft. Bragg, http://www.bragg.army.mil/www-aces/regents_college.htm posting. EXCELSIOR COLLEGE - Private College. Originally founded in 1971 by the New York State Board of Regents as the External Degree Program of The University of the State of New York, Regents College is a private, independently chartered institution based in Albany, New York. It is governed by a board of trustees comprised of a national group of prominent leaders in education, business, and the professions. Excelsior College provides opportunity for motivated adult learners to obtain recognition of their college-level educational achievement. In the past twenty-five years, more than 80,000 individuals have earned accredited associate and baccalaureate degrees in business, liberal arts, nursing, and technology from this unique college.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), February 17, 2002.

My two basic rules for work are that the job should require neither of the following:

Pantyhose

Alarm clock

If the alarm has to go off, I'm not done sleeping yet! And I always figure that I will give in on the pantyhose when EVERYONE in the office/workplace has to wear them - men included. And yes, if the men wear hose, I will wear a necktie!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), February 17, 2002.

Soni, all this time I thought you were a guy!!

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), February 17, 2002.

I am an architectural draftsman. Someday, in the distant future, I hope to be able to work from my home (hopefully, in the country). Although I completed an A.A.S. degree, mainly this job is learned on the job. Pretty complex at times, other times simple. Never boring.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), February 20, 2002.

I work in a paper mill laborer, before that I worked in an under ground copper mine before that I worked running heavy equ.Ihave worked in the woods logging and I have cut meat stocked shelves and worked as a carryout at the local store. I have to have a town job to keep the health insurance on the kids.Iam a single dad with two teens that I am raising on my own. I was told by my X that all I do is work so she left (and the farm was her dream to start with) well I guess its just got under my skin there is no way that I could live anywere but here 15yr my heart my soul and some of my blood in this place. I have a home biz that I started about 10yrs back I had some friends that needed some deer cut up, they like what I did and told some friends 15 deer the first yr. 50 deer the next, 100 deer the yr. after that then the smoke house went up then the walkin through hunting season I have to hire two guys to help me so I can sleep. I still have to do the town thing for the ins. the meat shop with the farm beef and pork deer and bear keeps me hopin from aug. through the end of the year.But on a summer night with the norther light flashing and the tree frogs singing the smell of wild flowers in the air, well I know there is a heaven its right under my feet. Oh that work thing once the dirt gets under your finger nails it go right to your soul and you will do what it takes to keep that little pice of heaven under your feet...And may the sun always be shining on your neck of the woods ...Jimbo PS Now that I have found this place you all are stuck with me I like it here too.

-- Jim L (MI U.P.) (jtbutcher30@hotmail.com), February 23, 2002.