I will keep my license active as long as I can profit enough from surveying each year to be able to pay for what all it takes to renew my license. That currently involves 12hr CEU per year at $350 that are in places all around Texas the nearest being Tyler at 90mi away, two or four nights stay in the city I choose to get them $200-$600 depending upon the other things I choose to get involved in and $179 license renewal fee per year.
I enjoy seeing old friends and meeting new ones and participating in the process at the CEU programs and getting back into contact with people and seeing places I have not had an opportunity to visit and see in decades.
Have met very few BeerLeggers there or any that will admit they are members of RPLS Today as we are called today.
When it was BeerLeg, I had some of Wendell's cards and stickers to spread around the room for people to spot.
Probably need to update and get some of the current wardrobe to wear to the CEU gatherings because there are usually around 100?ñ surveyors and students and professors in attendance.
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Fortunately for me, California doesn't have a continuing education requirement, so I expect to maintain my license for some time after I retire.?ÿ Because that license is an important part of my identity, I expect that at some point I'll change to retired status, as the renewal fee is lower (currently $31.25 versus $57.50 annually).
Exactly how I see it.
Continuing education isn't that much of a problem, as I use the correspondence method. Have enough old surveys/records that it takes less effort (time) and the profits are greater. Never much of a traveler. Working in a rural area, so getting out and working results in seeing neighbors and old friends. Just boundary surveys, and a few aerial topos are the jobs I take. Latest in GNSS equipment enables precision in wooded areas. No city traveling. No rush jobs. Younger girl friend. Family scattered all over the county, including several in local government. No reason to retire. Also, I like staying involved in work/life. Saw my Dad forced to retire at age 65 (railroad rules), and even though he lived to see 97, after a couple years fishing ended in fishing burnout the last 30 years of his life were pretty much non eventful. Older brother and sister retired in their 50's, and they both tell me they wish they had something to do. The way I see it, if what you do seems like work I would probably look forward to retirement too, but what I do just doesn't feel like work.
Let both Ohio and West Virginia expire.?ÿ Because of schedule conflicts was not active in professional societies during the years before retiring.?ÿ Usually had an evening class to teach on meeting nights.?ÿ No desire keep up continuing education requirements.?ÿ
Retired? Surveyor??ÿ What's that?
Until your dying day you will always be looking for survey points, even if it's in ancient Greece when you are on vacation there or when you are out for a jog in your own neighborhood!
I don't mind paying the annual license fees, it's the mandatory attendance at seminars to get the continuing education points that bugs me. Most topics can be studied online and I don't have to drive several hours to sit in a lecture class,
