Once upon a time, I'd have replied #2. More often recently, and especially today, I'd have to reply #4, I have no ^*%#)&@ clue.
Or maybe add another option to the list of answers:
6. Been doing this so long that I don't know how to do much of anything else.
Excellent!
That photo.
That expression.
That rock.
And no electronics in sight.
Reminds me of being an enthusiastic kid again, loving the work.
Don
1. Money - Employer paid me 5 1/2 % bonus because all the pre-1982 civil engineers (*) retired. I am both a PE (civil) and PLS. I signed all the civil improvement plans and subdivision maps. yes I was in responsible charge of both functions, no rubber stamp.
&
2. Job is Fun - particularly the field work and research
* In California civil engineers licensed before 1/1/1982 we authorized to practice land surveying
Harold
Our paths sounds similar. First came the civil engineering license in 1980. Then came the land surveying license. The latter providing the more rewarding experience at this point in my career.
Yeah - the geometry thing.
I wonder if there's a genetic anomaly to enable some of us to be "naturals" at it?
I think instead of X and Y chromosones we have Northings and Eastings.
Not sure of the number, but I grew up around surveying. Before I started school, my grandfather had his business and my mother was his secretary. So she took me to work with her everyday and I crawled around on the blueprints. About the time I was 11 or 12, I held the rod for the first time. My uncle was surveying our neighbor's house. They had a fenced property with 4 doberman's. I knew the dogs and they knew me so I got nominated to go into the yard to locate the house. I spent a lot of summers and weekends with my grandparents, especially once I discovered I could get paid for working. Starting high school, I knew I was going into a related field. I wanted to be a surveyor right out of high school, but my grandfather said "get a Civil Engineering degree" (he is a PLS only). So, I did (while working with him in the summers). I worked on and off for him during and after college (moving into the office and helping there). Finally, I took the business over in 2005 and have been doing it almost exclusively since. Got divorced a few years back and lost health insurance so I was forced to go back to work. So, now I am doing both. So I don't know if I was an engineer that became a surveyor or a surveyor that became an engineer. But I had the PE long before the PLS. I enjoy both and I can't see myself doing anything else.