How family members view our profession...

I wouldn't worry too much about it. I grew up as the son of a surveyor, and as a younger person, I didn't understand or appreciate the profession, and as such, had little desire to become a surveyor. However, as I learned more through education and experience, I became more appreciative of the land surveying profession and my role within it. I'm actually proud to say I'm a fourth generation land surveyor, so yes, it can be kind of a family thing.

I used to get annoyed by my dad stopping at all of the stakes and lath, getting out of the truck, and going over to see what was written on them. Now I do the same thing...and I'm sure my son is annoyed by it.

My brother got me into this mess. he understands and does the same thing from time to time. Dad's dead. Mom, when not stoned on pain killers err...wouldn't know the difference. One sister cuts hair and has heard of surveying (since I did hers for free) other sister is a an RN...me thinks she got a fairly good idea. Other brother sells food and has heard of a surveyor before. Last two brothers drive trucks for a living. I am sure they have seen us on the side of the road.

Family right? (thank god...didn't want to go into the nephews, nieces and uncle thing)

On a side note my wife loves it. took her out on several projects. Very inquisitive, catches on like she already knew it...loves to ask questions.

My ex used to say "what are you complaining about? All you do is walk around in the woods all day."

Then one day I came home after cutting through saw-tooth briars and privettes all day. I looked like I'd been figting with a rabid panther. I was cut up all over and torn clothes. She asked "what happened to you?" I told her "You know, I was just walking around in the woods all day."
Nothing more was ever said. Gee imagine that.

:good:

My first wife used to help me with the ticks at the end of the day. I think it made an impression on her. What type of impression I wouldn't even attempt to try to guess.

:good:

In the early days, before Mrs. Cow became Mrs. Cow, she volunteered to help me one day. Within the first two hours, she was seen running across a field in large mud boots attempting to outrun a Vietnamese potbelly pig who did not want her "territory" disturbed by some fool human with a weird looking shiny stick in hand.

My sister, who was in the mortgage industry, insists that surveying a blue collar job.

The rest of the family has great respect for it.

My wife views it as a respectable but unrecognized profession. Only because she was a surveyor when we met. She knows who is a professional and who is a slacker.
My parents, siblings and other family members could care less. I listen to their stories of the jobs they do and how they hate it and everything about it. When asked about my career, I start to tell them what I do and it is way over their heads. They loose interest. Maybe I bore them with details or I just love it so much they can't stand it.
I hike, ride ATV's and do 4 wheeling during the week, not just 3 day weekends.

> My sister, who was in the mortgage industry, insists that surveying a blue collar

Look how far those "...muddy boots guys..." took things. Kind of a clever slogan in its own right, but what do people really think.

My daughter had a couple surveying classes last year in her Nat Res Mgmt degree program and called me all geeked about it, with an astounding "...dad, that stuff is really fun...". I just reminded her that I'm spending her inheritance on newfangled equipment and seminars - just so I can hopefully keep ahead. Good for a couple laughs, sad but true.

With the same ex...

I'd come home after getting covered up with poison sumac, oak and ivy. Not all at the same time - usually. This stuff doesn't bother me at all so I don't shy about grabbing hold of it and surely not walking through it.
Then over the weekend she would do the wash.
Next thing you know she is covered up with the poison blisters. She couldn't understand where she got it from. It was my clothes. Of course, once again, wilst "just walking around the woods all day" my clothes get covered up in the poisons. One day it occured to me she was getting transfer poison off my clothes so I asked "would you happen to be alergic to poison and all that stuff?"
"Yes, VERY!"
Need I say more?

From then on when I got home, I grabbed clean clothes and undressed by the washer putting the clothes directly into the washer so she didn't have to touch them.
In hind sight, this story might not be so funny as the other. If she was SUPER allergic, that might have caused some serious problems for her.