I would not expect you will see many negative responses to this question from this group. It's kind of inherent that those seeking to discuss surveying are on their chosen path. I retired after 47 years over a year ago and I find myself doing a survey currently in the PLSS section in which I reside, so I suppose I'm not. The neighbors are getting quite a comprehensive survey that includes a cemetery established in 1887. I'm finding three curves marked on a local gravel road where there should be one. Quite a puzzle. Got into the woods and briars and had bloody arms to prove it. Just me and the hoot owls. Smiling every step of the way.?ÿ
Fell into surveying by way of doing drafting for a local engineering firm back in 2000. Not sure what I would do if I wasn't surveying. Being honest though, I've thought many times about doing something else, just don't know what that would be.
Lots of life changing events these days so I'm questioning almost everything.
not sure I would want to change careers but would have liked to been a recipient of some of those lawyer jokes from time to time to supplement my surveying.
If I could do it all over I would have started surveying at least a decade sooner, but I'm not sure it would have worked out as well as it has. One of my first jobs as a teenager was as a helper on a survey crew that my Dad lined up after I started getting into trouble. Not too long afterward I found myself on my own at ripe age of sixteen (long story), at which point any job was seen as a blessing. Went on into sales, worked for a securities brokerage for a number of years, commercial fishing, framing house. Nothing really felt like a good fit and then in my early thirties a friend mentioned he'd gone through a surveying program at our university and the light bulb went on. Out of all the work I'd tried, none compared to that first gig on a survey crew, going somewhere new regularly, the mystique of the numbers black magic, it scratched my wonder lust itch and challenge crave. So this high school drop out applied to community college and steadily worked his way through the program. The reason I don't think I could've skipped all those early step jobs is I simply would not have appreciated what surveying offered me. Once somebody asked me what I learned while commercial fishing in the Bering Sea in winter. Thought about it for a second and the answer was glaringly obvious to me, the value of an education. Something I didn't start out with an appreciation for, but that changed and as long as I'm learning something new, which this profession has to offer in abundance, I certainly made the right call.?ÿ
I have never been a big picture planner. Usually went in the direction that felt right. After taking "drafting" and Architecture courses in high school I took a test, as a lark, for an opening with the City of L.A. as a C.E. draftsman. I was offered a job within a couple of days and stuck with that and college courses in the evening, until I got drafted a couple of years later.
Didn't go to Nam, but I developed a pretty sorry attitude towards what was happening in my country. Bummed around after ETS and outlived my welcome where I was. Found a drafting job for an Engineering firm that had survey crews. Got to know the office PLS and he nudged me to get out of the office after a few months and onto one of the survey crews. Joined the union and never had another job that wasn't on a crew, as a party chief, survey manager or sole proprietor ever since. Licensed in 1984.?ÿ
There were firms for which I worked that made parts of my 50+ years living hell. Used to hate going to work. Others were the complete opposite. Nurturing, caring and good surveyors. In either setting I learned?ÿa lot about people and gained the perspective and confidence that allowed me to start my own business, twice. First time during the late 80's to early 90's. Second time from 2009 until the present. Javad user.
I can say without equivocation that the times I have spent as business owner fit my style and personality better than being part of a larger group. There are difficult times and pressures that a business owner must navigate but I am healthier and happier running my own business. I did not become a billionaire.
There were a couple of times, when the industry was flat and work was scarce, that I considered another vocation. I never found anything that I had knowledge of that checked all of the boxes that surveying did.
So, yeah, I would do it all again more because of the way I always follow the path where things feel good and come easily, as opposed to planning in school to become a Land Surveyor. I did not know what a Land Surveyor was until 1972.
JA, PLS, SoCal
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being part of a lager group.
I hear that most surveyors like lager. ?????ÿ
I doubt I would have been a success as a surveyor but many aspects of it interest me.
Just from your posts, I have no doubt that you would have been successful and made a darn fine surveyor.?ÿ Because of the quality of your posts, it wasn't until reading your reply that I even remembered that surveying was not your background!
Fell into surveying by way of doing drafting for a local engineering firm back in 2000.
I know many folks who found their way to surveying by being the draftsman that got drafted to help out in the field.
Would you choose the same career path?
Regrets? I've had a few. But then again, too few to mention....
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Let's just say that I'm at age where people talk about their retirement plans.?ÿ Two years ago, at age 60, I took a city job that is 40 hrs per week, no more, no less, and 4 weeks per year vacation - plus 10 holiday days. That's all the retiring I'll be doing for the next ten years. After that I get 8 weeks a year off. That will probably keep me for another 10 years. Then, we will see what happens. I'll still have 22 years to go to match that guy in Indiana. And I don't regret that at all.?ÿ
For the record, I didn't really choose surveying, surveying chose me.?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ
The only regret I have is not staying in college and getting my bachelor's after getting my associate's in surveying.?ÿ The thing is that I would have moved to StL two years later (maybe not at all) and I wouldn't have met my wife and have my boys and live this great life that I do have.?ÿ It's wild to think back at certain decisions you've made and what path it put you down.?ÿ I wouldn't change a thing.
Fell into surveying by way of doing drafting for a local engineering firm back in 2000.
I know many folks who found their way to surveying by being the draftsman that got drafted to help out in the field.
I was working for a hydraulic hose company, 12 hour "swing" shifts and needed something to do on my days off because you can only mow the yard and wash clothes so much. Plus, I was a young parent and needed the money.
Applied at a local engineering firm because I had AutoCAD exposure in high school. Worked for the engineering firm for 3 months and they offered me a full time position. I accepted and was exposed to drafting and photogrammetry. One day our guy who did all of our surveying had a stroke in the office. He forgot everything he knew. So sad and scary. They put him on blood thinners so he could no longer work in the field.
Another kid my age had some construction experience. I had ZERO surveying knowledge. He and I became the survey crew. Basically, we were staking what we were given. Neither of us really knew what any of it meant.
20 years later...here we are
I would have sucked it up, kept my government job and retired twenty years ago.?ÿ Today I would be doing the same thing, but with an extra check in the mailbox every week.?ÿ
@squirl?ÿ
Gates
Kenny
Justin
You made wise choices and learned quickly.?ÿ Go job.
Two of my grade school classmates stayed with Gates until they could retire.?ÿ One is missing part of a finger and says "What?" too frequently.?ÿ The other can't hear diddly.
Saw Kenny a couple of years ago.?ÿ His memory is like Swiss cheese with big holes in it.
Justin is still at it last I knew but on the engineering side of things with Danny and Riebel.
Good job, too ???? ...You had some to do with that as well and I'm very appreciative of what you showed me and tell those stories often here in Texas.?ÿ
Yessir...I reached out to Danny, Justin and Riebel a couple months ago hoping to team up on a potential project but got no response for whatever reason. Turned out to be a good thing once we learned more about the project history/expectations.
I haven't seen Ken in a very long time. Hope he's doing well overall.
Gates was good to me but I'm glad I left when I did and found surveying.?ÿ
Hope you and your family are well!
