Engineer going rogue - headed for a simpler life.

[snowracerh]

All, I am looking for life advice and experience from you all as I try to decide my future fate. Currently I have a degree in Mechanical engineering and have spent 10 years as a Quality Engineer in a medical device contract manufacturing role. Last spring I was promoted into an Engineering manager role - what I always thought I wanted to do. Its a high risk, high reward fast paced job Good pay, fun at times....I also spent awhile in my younger years building houses. Some of that work was the most fun/rewarding I've done. As I have gotten involved (and obsessed) with timber, habitat and land management, i find myself wondering if there is a related outdoor career that I should be considering. I know its a trade off of higher pay/stress versus better satisfaction and enjoyment of a simpler "back to Earth" life. My question for the forum is have any of you made such a transition? What do you do now? What struggles are there? Are there any regrets? I trust you all like close friends and look to you for advice!

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[MarkDarvin]

Squeeze as much outta that high paying job as you can and retire early. Even if you can't retire completely, if you can take a big step down, you've got way more options. I already walked away from that life. It was set to kill me if I didn't.

Once you got an egg built up, work less, live more.

 

[Zeek]

I feel the same way. Unfortunately money has to be a top priority. Mark's is good advice. Try the obsession thing as a part time job first and see how it goes. Go see a financial planner and tell them what you want to do. It cost a lot of money to get old, and things ain't going to get any cheaper. Best of luck.

 

[THE LLC]

I have a degree in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Transportation Systems and Planning, and worked for years as a Senior Construction Manager for the local government. In 2004 I walked away from that to run for office and started a real estate development firm with a friend. We did REALLY well until 2008 at which time we promptly lost everything. I had always wanted to develop, buy, and sale property so had acquired my Real Estate License in 2000 and Brokers license in 2004. 2008 to 2013 was brutal. I took a short time job with a road building firm but HATED it. I then worked from 2013 to 2017 as Vice President of Business Development for an environmental engineering firm. Enjoyed that but hated working for someone else. Beginning in 2016 the development business started coming back with the election of President Trump and it has been balls to the wall ever since. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't trade one minute of they way I did things for staying in that government role for the pay and benefits. So many employers hold people with get-up-and-go about them hostage with retirement benefits. And, by the way, that local government I worked for? I did eventually win an election in 2012 and have served as a commissioner here since then. Having done that, I would not recommend it, unless you just really want to ruin your health.

 

[Baker]

I started college in forestry and wildlife. I wanted to be a wildlife biologist. It was...and is a burning passion. As I started my sophomore year I literally had a dream one night that said... and I paraphrase..."you idiot. You will destroy your passion by making it your career. It will not be what you believe and take the luster off the bloom. Be an entrepreneur ". The dream was actually more graphic and detailed than that . Come to find out, God has a sense of humor.

I literally changed my major the next day to business mgt. The next couple decades went like a bizarre surrealistic dream then I retired at 43....to be able to spend most of my time following my passion; outdoors, wildlife, habitat, ranching, and growing whitetail deer.

 

[j-bird]

I too am an Engineer...I have my BS in Computer Integrated Manufacturing Tech (Basically Mechanical Engineering with more hand's on computer stuff). I am 45 and have been doing this line of work ever since I graduated college. I am currently a Program Development Lead (head engineer for the product design) for one of the 10 biggest automotive supplies in the world. And the customer I support is a reputable domestic motorcycle company. Also being a habitat nut I have often asked myself the very same question. Why do I beat my brains out at work and get all stressed out, when I can work a plot on the weekend and sit there on the tractor at the end of the day and feel real good about myself? There is some satisfaction in actual work...vs moving paperwork from one pile to another. However...bills, kids and the like keep me tied to the desk because of the stability of a steady income and insurance (which as you know insurance coverage drops while the costs go up and we are all subject to the trends in the economy). As I type this I am in my prototype shop trying to get a build out the door for a customer and it's been a very tense week and we are looking at having to work saturday to make this all happen. If I hit the date...at best I might get an "at'a boy" from the boss....but if I miss that date. There will be hell to pay. Typical corporate motivation. I don't make 6 figures, but I don't make bad money either. I support our family of 6 on my income alone.

I also know that doing my "hobby" for a living is for me a bad idea. When I do what I do habitat wise. I am the boss...I do what I want, when I want, how I want. Getting up and having to do that for someone else....would just drive me nuts. I do what I do as a means to get away from the stress. I can't imagine ruining my hobby for doing it as a living. I enjoy the engineering side of my career...the corporate and political games and babysitting however I could do without. The only way I could do what you suggest would be in "flipping" hunting properties. That way I still do what I want...but cash flowing that would be a serious hurdle

I won't/couldn't put my family at risk by doing what you are talking about. If I was single, or the wife had a good job or had fewer financial concerns...then I would certainly look into it. Many people...myself included....need a sense of security, especially when it's more than just my own neck I'm worried about. I still got 2 college educations and 3 weddings to pay for!!!!

 

[THE LLC]

"you idiot. You will destroy your passion by making it your career. It will not be what you believe and take the luster off the bloom. Be an entrepreneur ". The dream was actually more graphic and detailed than that . Come to find out, God has a sense of humor.

Good advice. Kinda how I look at hunting too much. I want it to be a passion, not a job.

 

[George]

When I'm asked "are you retired?" my answer is always the same, "no, I'm still looking for my first job out of college". At this stage in my life I need to accept the fact that I'm never going to be anything more than a deer bum. I'll never be rich by some folks measure but I never have and never will have to kiss anyone's butt. There are some advantages to living the simple life like having the freedom to plan each day around the barometric pressure and which way the wind is blows.

G

 

[Chainsaw]

Life is short, My wife and I worked 16 years for a very large insurance company. Pay was excellent, raises and promotions came quickly and regularly, the physical work environment was first class, the work week was 36 hours long; minus coffee breaks and other perks put the work week down to about 33 hours long. Sometimes we had fun but mostly we and seemingly everyone else there hated it. After sixteen years I left to scratch a living in the fur business. It was successful and a lot of fun most of the time. Within one year my wife also left the insurance company. I trapped and hunted during peak season, put up fur and bought and sold fur during the winter lull and together we made fur coats for trappers and coon hunters from their fur. Hours were very long and work was sometimes hard but it worked better for us than ”real ”jobs had as we both enjoyed our work. When the fur market died we didn’t even consider going back to a real job but just started up new activities to make money. We became semi-retired when I was 53 and my wife was a few years younger. The semi part is that since then we have maintained and rented out some summer cottages that we had purchased during our more active years. The cottage rentals don’t make much but they do pay for themselves and give us just a little extra. For us the non-corporate world was the way to go but everybody is different. Still, life is short and if one can do well at a job they aren’t crazy about they can excel doing just about anything they want to do if they go in knowing that longer hours and highs and lows are the norm. However if you enjoy doing it, is it really work? So these days this is the view from our summer time "office".


Ok so sometimes it is raining, blowing or sleeting and snowing but it still beats the corporate world hands down at least for us. Like our properties each is different and what worked for us would not work for all and vice versa.

 

[dogghr]

I guess I find it sad so many seem to hate their job. I think the key is find something that provides well and if possible, be your own boss. Self employment can suck, but it sucks with you in charge, and that is a great thing. I still like my work and granted it is only 2-3 days a week at this time. I like interacting with people, and to not have that would be boring for me, yet at the same time, I can very much be antisocial depending . But work has always been way down the line of importance. I've always worked just enough to allow my time to be spent doing things I like, sports, motorcycle, traveling. I 've ridden the back roads of nearly every state in the country, Canada and Mexico, spending much the time talking to people I meet, hiked much the eastern US, hunted across NA, roamed my states mountains alone and with friends hunting its peaks, and sat on the porch with a glass of tea or 46 doing nothing for hours.
My point, is one has to make themselves happy with whatever God places them to do. No one can answer that question but oneself as to what their purpose is.
But I know this, if work/job/income maker is all one strives for, they will be a very dissappointed individual no matter what path they choose. Good luck, doubt all that rambling makes any sense.

 

[Native Hunter]

I worked 3 years past my 30 year retirement and retired as a Vice President over Engineering and Operations for an electric utility. The next day I went to work as a engineering consultant and have done that full time for 10 more years. So I have worked 43 years straight and don't regret it. However, things are getting ready to change.

Now I'm looking at going part time real soon and working about 40% of the time until I finally just outright quit in about 3 more years. This seems to me like the perfect way to slowly go out.

None of us have the promise of tomorrow - but at nearly 64 I can still do hard habitat work and run a saw all day long. If nothing bad happens, I will be doing a lot more of that soon.

Working so long has had its ups and downs, but at this point I'm so happy I kept doing the hard stuff that paid great rather than taking a job that paid less. For me, life is about my commitment to my family and faith. If I die tomorrow, I still don't regret hanging in there. I will know that I've done the right thing for the ones I love.

 

[BrianVT]

I got back into motorcycles in my mid 30's. Hit it with a passion. Loved it. Started teaching for MSF and HD. Eventually ended up to where I don't do either. For me hobbies are a hobby for a reason. I'd hate to screw up something I enjoy so much(habitat management) by trying to make a living off of it. Everybody is different though, I've got a buddy who owns a bicycle shop and still spends a lot of time riding on weekends. The only one that knows you well enough to answer those questions is the man in the mirror.
I can say it's hard to put a value on being in a job you like. My wife says I'm much more pleasant in my current role versus the one I had prior to this for 9 years. I had no ideal that I could enjoy a job as much as I do now. Good Luck

 

[THE LLC]

The semi part is that since then we have maintained and rented out some summer cottages that we had purchased during our more active years. The cottage rentals don’t make much but they do pay for themselves and give us just a little extra.

Where are your cottages?

 

[Mennoniteman]

Turning a hobby into a career is a mistake. It's a hobby because we spend lots of time doing it only because we enjoy it and we want to. Turning a hobby into a career instantly does two things; it turns the want to into a have to. And now our career is super busy at the exact time we used to do our hobby. Case in point, ask a Wildlife Conservation Officer how much time they have to go hunting?

My advice; save your money and become financially independent, then you can do food plots for fun all the time.

 

[MarkDarvin]

Turning a hobby into a career is a mistake. It's a hobby because we spend lots of time doing it only because we enjoy it and we want to. Turning a hobby into a career instantly does two things; it turns the want to into a have to. And now our career is super busy at the exact time we used to do our hobby. Case in point, ask a Wildlife Conservation Officer how much time they have to go hunting?

My advice; save your money and become financially independent, then you can do food plots for fun all the time.

Exactly. I love fishing, hunting, and habitat work. I'd never consider it an income producing idea though. Once you introduce customers into the mix, they'll quickly make you hate it. Asshole kids that bitch about being bored on the boat, guys showing up with junk equipment and wounding deer, or someone telling you your stuff is way to expensive to do a food plot or tree planting correctly.

This is the same reason I'm hesitant to move to the Black Hills. I absolutely love it out there, but if I lived there, I'm afraid it'd lose it's luster.

 

[THE LLC]

Turning a hobby into a career is a mistake. It's a hobby because we spend lots of time doing it only because we enjoy it and we want to. Turning a hobby into a career instantly does two things; it turns the want to into a have to. And now our career is super busy at the exact time we used to do our hobby. Case in point, ask a Wildlife Conservation Officer how much time they have to go hunting?

My advice; save your money and become financially independent, then you can do food plots for fun all the time.

BINGO. When you watch hunting shows, those folks are starting to sound almost miserable. Talking about how long they've been on the road, how many hours in the stand, can't wait to get home to see the family, etc. Big mistake.

 

[THE LLC]

This is the same reason I'm hesitant to move to the Black Hills. I absolutely love it out there, but if I lived there, I'm afraid it'd lose it's luster.

Exactly. Same reason I stay in the crap hole Atlanta. Because I want to LOVE the country when I get to get out to it.

 

[OkieKubota]

You can “Love” the country by living in it...I absolutely love being able to walk out of my door and being in big un-(high)fenced deer country where I can literally see anything at any time...

I am not retired and probably won’t retire for another 10 years. I am a paper mover as has been mentioned before, a trainer, and a working supervisor and I have 3 departments under me that depend on me. Time off is valuable and I get 6 weeks a year to take but I usually save most of it for the fall. Being department head means lots of calls come in while slipping through the woods to my stand or while on stand of the usual..”cough, cough can I take a day of leave” which means more phone calls for coverage...

When I met my wife she was a receptionist at a neurological center and made about $7 an hour. She has worked her way up and has now just took a position as the Administrative officer at a very large medical facility in South Dakota so we will be living apart soon so she can continue her dream of actually “making a difference”. The rewards will be great and we will want for nothing when we retire...

 

[Hoosierhunting]

Sounds like we could turn this into an engineering board pretty easily. I semi-retired at 41, I’d like to take credit but I recognize that good fortune, timing, some luck and the good lord all had as much to do with that as I did. That said, nothing was handed to me, aside from an education and a fantastic raising, Ive worked since age 10, slinging newspapers was my first job and never looked back. Snowracer, what worked for me was building a nut that I knew could support my family and my lifestyle first. Usually the hard part, but living well below your means can get a lot more people there. We seemed to have lost that ability mostly in the world of finance everything. Once that’s done, you have the freedom to check out of the corporate world if you choose to. Then find something that provides income, if it’s enough income that you’re not dipping into your nut for living expenses then that’s a really good feeling. It could be timber buying, running a woodmizer, plotting for others but I think that others have given some real good advice about turning something you enjoy into something you don’t. I don’t know anything about your chosen career, but I’d assume it’s pretty specialized and that with all the FDA compliance in a medical device manufacturing environment that you may find ample opportunities to consult and/or work on a contract basis short term. I have watched more than a couple of folks make that switch and make it work for them, usually making more and working less, though it’s a lot easier if you have a spouse that has insurance at her job. Watched a lot of SAP gurus do this. The obvious key is having a specific skillset that’s in demand. Could be pipeline welding, could be SAP either way I think it’d be preferable working 3 months in your old industry to make the same money as working 12 months in an outdoor related career. One ensures you have time to enjoy the outdoors, one potentially kills your enjoyment of the outdoors. The universal truth is that all of us have a limited time on earth, so whatever you do I hope it’s enjoyable and fruitful.


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[Gator]

Another engineer here, I definitely dont' love my job (IT team lead over storage and virtualization) but it pays well and I have lots of freedom (flex-time, 3 hours a week of health and wellness, short easy commute etc) so I'm here until retirement or I'm taken off this planet. I'll retire at 57 with a nice 401K balance as well as my pension. Live simple and below your means as other have mentioned.