What Do you Do?

[Cafguy]

Its a Rainy day here in Bakersfield so I'll be at the bench building stuff and watching the forums.
So there are a bunch of great people on this forum and I sometimes wonder What is it that they DO or DID?

I myself am a retired welder and Army Vet, I had a small company in Texas that built metal buildings and Walmarts and such. We also manufactured pressure vessels for the oil industry. I also found time to teach at the local college as an Autodesk Rep. for AutoCad, 3D-Studio, and MAYA. I am an R.C. Hobby fanatic with a few cars a boat load of planes and NOW a wall of Drones and Goggles.

 

[edsland]

I retired from AT&T as a cable splicer almost 15 years ago now for some play money I drive a school bus. It gives me 5 hours off between routes to golf and rc.

 

[Max Headroom]

I drive a wagon.

 

[Erk1024]

@Cafguy That's very cool! Thanks for sharing. Welding is a super handy skill to have for projects. All those RC vehicles sound like a lot of fun!

I was a video game programmer for many years, but recently I switched over to working on augmented reality. So you put on a pair of goggles or smart glasses (e.g. Meta Quest3 or Meta Raybans) and you see virtual displays overlaid on the real world.

There are a lot of parallels to drones. When you use the Goggles 3 and a Motion Controller, that's basically a VR setup. You can use the motion controller as a "laser pointer" to select menus like a 3D mouse. And you're seeing the view through the drone's camera. The Goggles3 has head tracking. These are all things that VR headsets do, and they use similar inside-out head tracking. The drones use cameras, IMU's and gyros for their positioning.

One of my big hobbies is photography, and now I'm having a blast doing it with a drone. It's like having the ultimate tripod that's 400 feet tall and works over water.

 

[Cafguy]

One of my big hobbies is photography

Very cool I can take pictures but thats about it I don't seem to have the Photographers eye.

 

[Chrislaf]

I am a retired elementary school teacher/Special Education teacher with a specialty in Assistive Technology. I have always been interested in stills photography and have interests in a variety of photo genres.

Chris

 

[Felix le Chat]

Very cool I can take pictures but thats about it I don't seem to have the Photographers eye.

Everybody has it... it's just a matter of starting to look at shape and colour before you hit the shutter, after a while it gets to be second nature. If you have a 'hunters eye'... you have the 'photographers eye'.

 

[Cafguy]

I retired from AT&T as a cable splicer almost 15 years ago now for some play money I drive a school bus. It gives me 5 hours off between routes to golf and rc.

I have tried to stay busy with my little security hobby thing but I am down to 1 customer at lest It buys a battery or two each month.

 

[tstr14]

In the early 70's, I suffered through a GM apprentice program and became a journeyman Die Maker. Later, I became interested in the union and ended up working for the International Union in Detroit, first on the Tuition Assistance program and later in the Benefits Department. I retired in 2006, was hired as a consultant by GM and Met Life and retired again in 2007. After my wife and daughter passed away, I started working with a friend installing whole house generators, but I don't believe I'll be doing that for much longer as old age is catching up to me.

 

[Erk1024]

Everybody has it... it's just a matter of starting to look at shape and colour before you hit the shutter, after a while it gets to be second nature. If you have a 'hunters eye'... you have the 'photographers eye'.

I agree with Felix. I don't think this is as much an innate talent, but instead something that you develop over time.

 

[CadrePilot]

Cool thread.

I'm an independent insurance adjuster. Previously I was a federal contracting officer, first in the Air National Guard (retired USAF) and then VA.

I like to do as much around the house myself as possible. Currently making on a barn door.

Welding is #1 on my list of things I want to learn.

 

[smbishop]

Elementary teacher for the past 20 years, very close to retirement....

 

[MavicAir2Marc]

I've been in the food packaging printing industry for over 30 years. I do color correction, retouching, type & design and assembly/trapping. We work with some big market clients like Keurig/Dr. Pepper. Riviana, ADUSA, CSG and a lot of the big names that consumers have never heard of but see every day. We do a lot of store branded stuff for wholesalers so if you've seen it in your local store, chances are we've got it ready for printing. We also did Hills Pet Science Diet for the last 25 years until just recently.
I've been a musician since childhood (started playing drums at 5 years old) and my dad is in the Lousiana Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I currently jam with my 2 sons every couple weeks playing Pop Punk like Green Day and Blink 182.
I have also been into photography since the 1980s from my first jobs of running giant process cameras mostly for architectural work. Lately, added cinematography to my hobbies and my youngest son is an accomplished filmaker and is a director for Vat 19 on YouTube. Hopefully I'll get to retire soon so I can spend a lot more time flying and taking video and photos.

 

[orionshooter]

I spent 8 years as a radioman in the U.S. Navy, then retired from Las Vegas Metro police as a detective, went to law school and practiced criminal defense and retired in 2020.

Now I substitute teach at the local high schools and referee high school varsity basketball when I’m not flying. I’m also a competitive USPSA pistol shooter and spend three days a week training and competing at local ranges.

There’s rarely a moment I’m not doing something I love.

I envy those of you with aviation and engineering backgrounds. I always wanted to learn to pilot an aircraft but I don’t care for heights so I live vicariously through my drones. I love the camaraderie of this forum

 

[sawman]

I'm employed by the FAA and IRS to scan forums for law breakers and tax dodgers. Just kidding...maybe.

Actually, just a lowly aircraft mechanic who might never afford to retire. Keep blowing money on hobbies like RC, photography, firearms and powered paragliders. Bright side is that we're in the final stages of remodeling our house ... 2 years later.

 

[tstr14]

Elementary teacher for the past 20 years, very close to retirement....

20 years - that's like a life sentence. You have my deepest and most heartfelt sympathy! Here's hoping your sanity returns quickly after retirement!

 

[tstr14]

I drive a wagon.

Covered? Oxen or horses?

 

[GFields]

I have been doing photography all my life (some professional, some not)

Insurance Sales for Loyal American
Route Sales for Coca-Cola
Route Supervisor for Coca-Cola
General Manager for Coca-Cola Consolidated
General Manager for Popeyes Chicken
I went into the preaching ministry in 1993
Retired from being a Pastoral Ministry in 2012 (officially - but no one can ever completely retire from ministry)
I went back to photography full-time 2012 under Digital Photo Creations
Introduced drones into the business 2013 to present
I also own and operate Digital Creations ( I design and host websites) some computer repair and upgrades, and finally, I own and operate an internet radio streaming business.

I have an associate degree in business and computer information systems, a BA degree in Christian Studies, an MA degree in Theology

Born and raised in Pikeville KY
I have lived in KY, WV, AL, MO, TX, and now back in AL.

Good gracious, I feel like I just applied for a job LOL

 

[Tman1265]

I'm new here after having Autels for the last several years and now jumping to the dark side. I'm currently a 911 dispatcher for a small rural county in Southern WI. Work paid for my initial 107 and I'm one of the department's drone pilots too. Looking forward to retiring in a year or so and being able to enjoy my hobbies more.

 

[Mark_Y]

Professional Engineer specializing in RF systems not retired yet but planning to be in the next year or two. My current drone fleet is Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic 2 Zoom, Mini 3 Pro, Avata 1, Avata 2 , NEO.