First Job

Porch Dweller · 03-23-2022, 11:24 AM

I worked summers on my aunt and uncle's farm from ages 13-15. Nothing like walking beans and shovelling $hit in the heat of a Midwest summer for $2.50/hour. But hey, it bought me my first guitar.

When I turned 16 and could "legally" work I got myself two jobs. One in a local video rental store and the other in the bait and tackle shop that was right next to it. They were good jobs working for good bosses, so I didn't mind sometimes when schedules coincided and I'd be in the tackle shop on a Sunday from 5:00am to 3:00pm, then head next door to work until 8:00pm.

I graduated and two months later at the age of 17 I headed off to USAF Basic Training. I spent almost 24.5 years in, the first ten as an air traffic control radar maintenance technician, the rest as an electromagnetic spectrum manager. I chose electronics because I planned on doing four years then getting out and I wanted marketable skills for post-military employment. But I enjoyed what I was doing so much that I re-enlisted without a second thought. I saved and invested heavily, so that when I retired two months after I turned 42 I wouldn't need to work if I chose not to.

bruceolee · 03-23-2022, 11:45 AM

The nice part about working in a video store was the free rentals and the screener copies of movies still in the theaters. Of course the quality on these VHS's wasn't the best. I just got sick of moms coming in and asking me if a movie would be appropriate for minors and so on all the while the kids are behind mom begging me with their eyes because they were desperate to watch robocop. I was never the cool guy about it either. I just gave my honest opinions about it. The movie was rated X and it's on the box but the mother is asking my opinion about it? I didn't wanna deal with the inevitable wrath of an angry mom for allowing her boys to watch an extremely violent movie for it's time.

So, james did you retire or are you still hitting the grind? It's nice to have that financial stability to retire so young. My biggest regret is not enlisting in the military. I wish i could go back and smack my younger self for all the stupid choices i made early on. God bless you sir!

Havanaaddict · 03-23-2022, 12:11 PM

Are we talking legal jobs

I worked in high school at a gas station graveyard (that sucked) Next job was working at a pharmacy in the store and as delivery driver ( lots of stores there)

Next was I worked in the body shop at a Ferrari, Aston Martin Dealer. Then moved to a place converting new Porsches to slant nose (all steel body modification) Then I spent many years rebuilding stolen and recovered Porsche & Mercedes Benz. reassembling them from the ground up (installing body parts, wiring looms, glass, interiors anything that can be bolted on or glued in) Then ran an Auto Body shop, writing estimates, ordering all parts, every aspect. (even putting in the painters mask when he didn't show up because of a weekend bender)

Then moved into the roll of stay at home dad for our first baby and then the next. That is still going on but I was also a part time then full time caregiver for my mom for 5 years in my home till she passed. I now am doing the Caregiver thing for my FIL and still taking care of the last kid she just turned 18. I thought I would have been playing golf 3 days a week and relaxing but my body has other plans, at least till I deal with this spinal stenosis

All in all I wouldn't do anything different, I loved being there every minute raising both my girls

03-23-2022, 11:24 AM	#1
Porch Dweller Life is for living Join Date: Oct 2012 First Name: James Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast Posts: 8,858 Trading: (24)	Re: First Job I worked summers on my aunt and uncle's farm from ages 13-15. Nothing like walking beans and shovelling $hit in the heat of a Midwest summer for $2.50/hour. But hey, it bought me my first guitar. When I turned 16 and could "legally" work I got myself two jobs. One in a local video rental store and the other in the bait and tackle shop that was right next to it. They were good jobs working for good bosses, so I didn't mind sometimes when schedules coincided and I'd be in the tackle shop on a Sunday from 5:00am to 3:00pm, then head next door to work until 8:00pm. I graduated and two months later at the age of 17 I headed off to USAF Basic Training. I spent almost 24.5 years in, the first ten as an air traffic control radar maintenance technician, the rest as an electromagnetic spectrum manager. I chose electronics because I planned on doing four years then getting out and I wanted marketable skills for post-military employment. But I enjoyed what I was doing so much that I re-enlisted without a second thought. I saved and invested heavily, so that when I retired two months after I turned 42 I wouldn't need to work if I chose not to. __________________ A 1911 in the hand is faster than 911 on the phone Last edited by Porch Dweller; 03-23-2022 at 11:31 AM.

03-23-2022, 11:45 AM	#2
bruceolee King of Rants Join Date: Aug 2009 First Name: Jason Location: South Florida Posts: 1,227 Trading: (1)	Re: First Job The nice part about working in a video store was the free rentals and the screener copies of movies still in the theaters. Of course the quality on these VHS's wasn't the best. I just got sick of moms coming in and asking me if a movie would be appropriate for minors and so on all the while the kids are behind mom begging me with their eyes because they were desperate to watch robocop. I was never the cool guy about it either. I just gave my honest opinions about it. The movie was rated X and it's on the box but the mother is asking my opinion about it? I didn't wanna deal with the inevitable wrath of an angry mom for allowing her boys to watch an extremely violent movie for it's time. So, james did you retire or are you still hitting the grind? It's nice to have that financial stability to retire so young. My biggest regret is not enlisting in the military. I wish i could go back and smack my younger self for all the stupid choices i made early on. God bless you sir! __________________ “When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and calm, refreshing sleep obtained by a cigar, I have felt grateful to God, and have blessed His name.” Spurgeon

03-23-2022, 12:11 PM	#3
Havanaaddict Man in Black!!! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: V.I.P Room Partagas Factory Posts: 3,529 Trading: (1)	Re: First Job Are we talking legal jobs I worked in high school at a gas station graveyard (that sucked) Next job was working at a pharmacy in the store and as delivery driver ( lots of stores there) Next was I worked in the body shop at a Ferrari, Aston Martin Dealer. Then moved to a place converting new Porsches to slant nose (all steel body modification) Then I spent many years rebuilding stolen and recovered Porsche & Mercedes Benz. reassembling them from the ground up (installing body parts, wiring looms, glass, interiors anything that can be bolted on or glued in) Then ran an Auto Body shop, writing estimates, ordering all parts, every aspect. (even putting in the painters mask when he didn't show up because of a weekend bender) Then moved into the roll of stay at home dad for our first baby and then the next. That is still going on but I was also a part time then full time caregiver for my mom for 5 years in my home till she passed. I now am doing the Caregiver thing for my FIL and still taking care of the last kid she just turned 18. I thought I would have been playing golf 3 days a week and relaxing but my body has other plans, at least till I deal with this spinal stenosis All in all I wouldn't do anything different, I loved being there every minute raising both my girls __________________ "If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions." "Hav-a-na nice day"