Ask HN : What would you do if you had to switch to a "manual" job?
It includes every job that a computer is not (or almost) used.
99 comments
Maybe there is an opportunity here for hackers. Some sort of job swapping / training site. It seems a lot of hackers would like to work a "manual job" and I would bet a lot of people doing manual labors would like to learn about computers.
Whatever it would be, I have no doubt that I'd start looking for ways to automate it (for better or worse).
As a followup question: "Why aren't you?" Is it just that the computer gigs are better paying, or is the listed profession only a second love?
better pay, better possibility of more pay in the future, and probably more interesting long term. The automotive industry is quite mature at this point, and therefore boring.
I could totally see myself going into cars, though, if I was born a century earlier. That would have been really interesting.
I could totally see myself going into cars, though, if I was born a century earlier. That would have been really interesting.
Better paying, fewer hassles, don't wear out your body as quickly.
I know a guy who was a superstar networking engineer in the 90s, who now is a wildlands firefighter. But it's not like he left all his problems behind in computing -- there are still politics and other workplace frustrations.
I know a guy who was a superstar networking engineer in the 90s, who now is a wildlands firefighter. But it's not like he left all his problems behind in computing -- there are still politics and other workplace frustrations.
Computer gigs feel more productive... I can make a computer do much more work than I can. If successful I can effect the lives of many more people with software than with manual labor.
Stonemason, artist, (unemployed) mathematician.
Nice username. Mathematician and emacs user?
I wonder what circumstances would lead to that? Some kind of a societal crash where computers are either fully exploited or no longer relevant.... well, who knows maybe road bandit? If I got busted with a court order keeping me off computers and I couldn't find some way to circumvent it, I'd probably end up doing some highly dangerous, highly paid work like oil rig or crab farmer until I could get enough $ to bail the country and get back to coding.
yellow cab driver in a major metro; genuinely interested in people and their stories. ask my passengers about their day, make notes and learn every day. if that doesn't count; a street hawker in nyc selling falafel/donner kabab with my secret sauce.
Timber framing.
Just took a great course (for the second time in 9 years) from the Heartwood School (heartwoodschool.com), with my second son (first son the first time).
We built a two-story 24' x 28' craft shop in 4 days and raised on the fifth.
Highly recommended.
We also built a timber-frame small horse barn at our farm back in 2000 with some itinerant framer help (well, they did the bulk of the work, since they had the experience). Great time, with a 200-person barn raising, big get-together, bonfire, etc.
Just took a great course (for the second time in 9 years) from the Heartwood School (heartwoodschool.com), with my second son (first son the first time).
We built a two-story 24' x 28' craft shop in 4 days and raised on the fifth.
Highly recommended.
We also built a timber-frame small horse barn at our farm back in 2000 with some itinerant framer help (well, they did the bulk of the work, since they had the experience). Great time, with a 200-person barn raising, big get-together, bonfire, etc.
Captain of a big freighter (if that counts, because the big ships are mostly computers nowadays).
Or a chef :)
Or a chef :)
I'd try to make a living building custom arcade machine cabinets.
Mmm.. Tekken 6..
I agree, not serious-and-business-like enough! We should all ensure that our comments are not humorous, but may sometimes contain a little bit of Snark.
Go (back) to sea.
A long time ago I was trained as a commercial oceangoing ship's officer. Now I live on a small farm in a landlocked state and I miss the ocean more frequently in recent years.
But I still think the guys on "Deadliest Catch" are insane...
A long time ago I was trained as a commercial oceangoing ship's officer. Now I live on a small farm in a landlocked state and I miss the ocean more frequently in recent years.
But I still think the guys on "Deadliest Catch" are insane...
Open a brewery. I've just started home brewing and find the whole process very addicting. From creating your own recipes to trying to brew the same beer twice, it's loads of fun.
Machinist. I liked that class so much in highschool that I applied for mechanical engineering in university, although I'm glad I ended up in computer engineering.
Pilot.
Something in a print shop, or a place that does screen printing onto fabric. (This does involve computers and machines, but not as a programmer.)
I'm surprisingly good at teaching, but I would go on a killing rampage if I worked under typical education administrators. Maybe private tutoring or an alt-education job.
Being an electrician looks like an awesome career too, though I have no relevant skills.
I'm surprisingly good at teaching, but I would go on a killing rampage if I worked under typical education administrators. Maybe private tutoring or an alt-education job.
Being an electrician looks like an awesome career too, though I have no relevant skills.
Assuming pay wasn't a factor in the decision, I'd be a door man for a hotel that caters to vacationers (and not in a major city like New York).
- My back hurt less and I was generally in better shape when I had a job that involved standing for the majority of the day.
- When the dominating factor of your job is smiling at and being smiled at all day, I think it'd be hard to leave work in a bad mood.
- My back hurt less and I was generally in better shape when I had a job that involved standing for the majority of the day.
- When the dominating factor of your job is smiling at and being smiled at all day, I think it'd be hard to leave work in a bad mood.
Commercial rod and reel fisherman. I would catch cod, striper and tuna depending on the season. I have the boat and the equipment and if I ever get sick of coding that's where you will find me. I have been a soldier, a mechanic and a carpenter in the past and grew up on a sheep farm and enjoyed them all but the ocean has the strongest pull.
Work at a Gym.
It's hard work, but very potentially rewarding. And I've never seen a gym employee stressed before.
It's hard work, but very potentially rewarding. And I've never seen a gym employee stressed before.
I would be a computer scientist.
Cabinet maker or mechanic specializing in restoration, bar tender, chef, teacher, politician, or counselor. I don't have the chops for it but "golf pro" would be a job that might combine all of the above in a good way.
I'd build giant robots like this: http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/technology/watch/...
Professional LEGO builder (that's what I wanted to be as a kid. seriously)
I'll tell you what I'd do, man: two chicks at the same time, man.
Psst, downmodders ... that's a quote from the Office.
No, it's from Office Space, and at least some of the downvoters probably knew that. People aren't very big on humor here; they tend to worry that if jokes are encouraged HN will turn into Reddit or something.
Interesting thought experiment.
I would be a general contractor and sub-contract the work I wasn't an expert at.
I have a lot of experience doing repair work and would enjoy the varied tasks.
I would be a general contractor and sub-contract the work I wasn't an expert at.
I have a lot of experience doing repair work and would enjoy the varied tasks.
Anthropologist, literally working in the field / excavating digs. Alternately a geologist doing pretty much the same thing minus the human artifacts.
U.S. marine
Best thing I ever did, hands-down.
EDIT: In terms of self-improvement. Hated every minute of it, though. :)
EDIT: In terms of self-improvement. Hated every minute of it, though. :)
Custom woodworking, or possibly photography. But modern photography is so computer-based in some ways I doubt it qualifies.
Barista. People walk in needing a pick me up and/or just having a bad day. I can brighten their day just a little.
automobile mechanic. A little bit more physical effort and a little bit less mental, (well, the manuals for repairing cars tend to be a whole lot better than the manuals for repairing computers, anyhow.) but in many ways similar to PC/server repair. (tho a whole lot messier.)
Open a bar/restaurant which would not allow use of electronics by its customers.
Carpentry. I love woodwork, am not very good, but think I would take that up.
I would be an orchardist.
Thank you for reminding me of the persistent daydream that lives inside my head. Somehow, I didn't even think of it in considering this question; an indication that there is too great a distance between what I want and like and what I think I "should/must" be doing.
There is an old orchard that I have been visiting for years. Every hour it it is bliss.
There is an old orchard that I have been visiting for years. Every hour it it is bliss.
Your thanks and our shared dream made my week.
May your branches always be heavily laden.
May your branches always be heavily laden.
Chef, or table tennis athlete. Yes, I know, random. :)
Harbour pilot. Failing that, some form of mechanic.
Are you implying that my job is automatic? :)
Hops Farmer up in some rural Oregon town.
racecar driver
what to choose... restore old cars, electronics, instrument maker, musician, build windmills
I'd be a musician, or a therapist.
Firefighter
Motorcycle Mechanic or Baker.
Carpenter.
Performance Artist
Car repair shop.
if ($job == 'manual') {
automate($job);
}
Hydrogeologist
Auto Mechanic
Longshoreman
Architect
Zookeeper.
Porn star.
car or motorcycle mechanic
Sound technician or go back to school to be an EE.
I would work in a bike shop. Repairing bikes everyday of the week.
Bike messenger.
Read this, you might find it interesting.
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/3/19/133129/548
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/3/19/133129/548
Which kind of bikes? (Both sound like fun, but for different reasons)
Construction. House-hacking.
I've recently started focusing on a home remodeling after some renters destroyed it. It is a lot of hard work. Very manual labor: ripping out walls, painting, cleaning up the yard.
But yes, very rewarding. You can actually see the work. People in the town stop and comment on how much better it looks. Everyone can tell if a house looks better, but not many can tell if a website has a better architecture.
But yes, very rewarding. You can actually see the work. People in the town stop and comment on how much better it looks. Everyone can tell if a house looks better, but not many can tell if a website has a better architecture.
There is something very satisfying about construction. Being able to stand back and look at the finished project is something you don't get to do with computers very much, and being able to then walk inside it is just an amazing feeling.
Really makes me wish I had more time to work with Habitat for Humanity.
Really makes me wish I had more time to work with Habitat for Humanity.
I spent last weekend rebuilding my parents' kitchen as an anniversary present, and yeah, building houses is definitely rewarding, hard work.
Equine blacksmith. You're basically a cobbler/podiatrist for horses. All the fun of being an equine vet, without having to castrate them or stick your arm up their butts.
You mean a farrier? I learned alongside the neighbour who used to shoe our horses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrier
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrier
My Dad used to be a farrier. He went to a blacksmith college in Oklahoma, which was the only post-HS schooling he has had. It's a very dangerous job, and most guys who are farriers for any length of time end up with serious wounds. All the lifelong farriers seem to end up with a limp, no matter how careful they are. My Dad stopped before he got hurt and he eventually started his own trucking company. There is now a shortage of trained farriers. My Dad handed out his last business card in 1979, and he still gets people who track him down and beg him to do work for them. They usually pull a mangled copy of his old business card out of their pocket. I'm always amazed by that.
When I was growing up, people would ask me what my Dad did. The conversation usually went like this:
"What's your old man do for a living?"
"He's a farrier." Of course, no one ever knew what that was, so then I would elaborate:
"He shoes horses."
"He SHOOTS horses?!!??! WTF?!!"
That's actually why my first girlfriend broke up with me. She thought I was the offspring of some sort of equine mass-murderer. Killing ponies always goes over big with the ladies ;-) She had a new boyfriend by the time we cleared up the misunderstanding.
When I was growing up, people would ask me what my Dad did. The conversation usually went like this:
"What's your old man do for a living?"
"He's a farrier." Of course, no one ever knew what that was, so then I would elaborate:
"He shoes horses."
"He SHOOTS horses?!!??! WTF?!!"
That's actually why my first girlfriend broke up with me. She thought I was the offspring of some sort of equine mass-murderer. Killing ponies always goes over big with the ladies ;-) She had a new boyfriend by the time we cleared up the misunderstanding.
Possibly your name had something to do with the misunderstanding as well ;)
My son's a farrier. I think having an egghead/hacker father probably pushed him as far as he could get from technology. ;-)
+1
Use the up-vote button to agree.
Greens crew. I did it for a bit when I was younger and except for the 4:30-5am starts and the occasional rain it was pretty relaxing and good for thinking about random things and you got free golf rounds out of it.
I have a follow up question to this: Whatever you're listing now, do you do this in your spare time?
I didn't list anything, so yes.
Yes. I have an orchard in Missouri that I tend to when I can. Persimmon, Fig, Quince, Pomegranate, Apples, Mulberries, Peaches, Apricots, Cherries.
when I have spare time, yes.
Even though I can command pretty good wages, it's often worth an afternoon, for example, to swap out the rotors and break pads on my car. I'm almost earning enough to pay for it, but when you consider that the money comes out post tax, it still makes sense for me to do it myself. Besides, it's interesting and almost relaxing. And it means that I make superior decisions as to when I need to replace the thing, too. (it also means I can economically own a much nicer car than otherwise; at one point I had a used bmw 325Is. having a professional swap out the breaks was north of a grand, or maybe 1/4th that in parts to do yourself. Luxury cars cost a lot more to repair, and as far as I can tell, it's a 'because we can' fee- it was actually much easier to work on the BMW than to work on the nissan I currently drive. Assuming you have the right documentation, that is. there was always a 'trick' that made what you were doing really easy on the BMW. Pay extra for the Bentley publishing manual, if you have a BMW. the Chilton brand 'book of lies' is not worth the paper it is printed on.)
On the other hand, I usually pay others to, for instance, change the oil. It's usually cheap, and it's pretty messy to do in the driveway.
Even though I can command pretty good wages, it's often worth an afternoon, for example, to swap out the rotors and break pads on my car. I'm almost earning enough to pay for it, but when you consider that the money comes out post tax, it still makes sense for me to do it myself. Besides, it's interesting and almost relaxing. And it means that I make superior decisions as to when I need to replace the thing, too. (it also means I can economically own a much nicer car than otherwise; at one point I had a used bmw 325Is. having a professional swap out the breaks was north of a grand, or maybe 1/4th that in parts to do yourself. Luxury cars cost a lot more to repair, and as far as I can tell, it's a 'because we can' fee- it was actually much easier to work on the BMW than to work on the nissan I currently drive. Assuming you have the right documentation, that is. there was always a 'trick' that made what you were doing really easy on the BMW. Pay extra for the Bentley publishing manual, if you have a BMW. the Chilton brand 'book of lies' is not worth the paper it is printed on.)
On the other hand, I usually pay others to, for instance, change the oil. It's usually cheap, and it's pretty messy to do in the driveway.
I do, but I call them "hobbies" instead of jobs. Not relying on them for income makes all the difference in the world.
Definitely. I said 'chef' and I cook 4-7 nights a week. However, to the extent that I need to eat, perhaps the time is not 'spare'. :)
Definitely try to make a living with my guitar. I bet a lot of fellow hackers here have a musical side too.
This is it for me. Music production, song writing, and live performances.
Also trying to save the world for my kids, but that might end up being a virtual effort so I'm not sure I can list it.
Also trying to save the world for my kids, but that might end up being a virtual effort so I'm not sure I can list it.
Yep. I'd try to get some actual paying gigs playing piano. Or I'd tune pianos. I tried that once for a while, kinda fun.
Every actual musician who I tell I left the "professional bassoonist" career path for computers looks at me like I'm a total fool. "Do you know how many gigs, grants, and scholarships there are for bassoonists?!"
Are there other instruments that are comparably scarce, or is the bassoon a uniquely uncommon specialty?
I'd guess the oboe as the next least popular, but that's probably just because of the joke.
What's the difference between an oboe and a bassoon? The bassoon burns faster.
I'd guess the oboe as the next least popular, but that's probably just because of the joke.
What's the difference between an oboe and a bassoon? The bassoon burns faster.
The bassoon is in kind of an interesting position because it's used in basically every full symphonic score ever, but uncommonly played. Most universities will have two to five bassoon majors at any given time. There are tons of less commonly used instruments but they are usually played as a side project by another instrumentalist. A lot of bassoonists actually double down on the saxophone which is used rarely in the symphonic context. Myself I alternated between Bassoon and Tenor Saxophone, which was my other love.
The instrument itself plays differently from anything else in an orchestra. It really is a bizarre instrument. And it's an absolute riot to play. The double reed, woody sound, and enormous four-octave range make playing the bassoon a really unique endeavor. The instrument is built out of tune with itself. It takes a certain kind of... distinctive individual to really connect with the instrument. Ask any concert musician - they'll nod and grin when you mention those odd bassoonists.
The closest instrument I can think of in terms of rarity and unusualness is the French Horn. It's really the odd duck of the brasswinds. French hornists are a little more common than bassoonists, but then most instrumentations call for a few more horn players.
Man, this has been a trip down memory lane. What might have been....?
The instrument itself plays differently from anything else in an orchestra. It really is a bizarre instrument. And it's an absolute riot to play. The double reed, woody sound, and enormous four-octave range make playing the bassoon a really unique endeavor. The instrument is built out of tune with itself. It takes a certain kind of... distinctive individual to really connect with the instrument. Ask any concert musician - they'll nod and grin when you mention those odd bassoonists.
The closest instrument I can think of in terms of rarity and unusualness is the French Horn. It's really the odd duck of the brasswinds. French hornists are a little more common than bassoonists, but then most instrumentations call for a few more horn players.
Man, this has been a trip down memory lane. What might have been....?
Gardening. Actually, right now I have a small garden on my balcony that I take care around 30 min each day, helps to relax, clear my mind after programming all day.
I am way too tempted to apply computers to whatever manual job I am working on. For example working on cars I find fun, so working at a garage sounds nice, but that will no doubt lead to me hacking on the chips in the car...
I spent a couple of years doing part time constrution work, and I miss it. No other work has ever given me the same kind of satisfied feeling at the end of the day.
Carpenter or work on bikes
Mailman
I'd love to be a commercial airline pilot. Don't know if that counts though, too many computers in airplanes these days.
Nothing stopping you from doing professional flying in a small aircraft. There are a few communities on the west coast of BC that are a pain to get to by land or sea, but a 4-6 seater seaplane convertable for cargo is something I'd enjoy doing.
Chef.
It's one thing to cook well for your family, and a completely different thing to routinely cook 30 orders in 60 minutes during a lunch rush. It gets very unglamorous very quickly.
+1 for chef. I just love to cook, but it is definitely a manual job!
Stone mason. You carry all of your tools in your back pocket, you get to work on and build beautiful and cool things that people enjoy, and when you're done your work can last for hundreds of years. (Plus you get to be outside and meet lots of interesting folk)
I've also had a hankering for owning my own sub shop at the beach. Walk up in your bare feet, place an order, and minutes later I've created something that makes you happy. I get to wear whatever I want, and the scenery is gorgeous.
I've also had a hankering for owning my own sub shop at the beach. Walk up in your bare feet, place an order, and minutes later I've created something that makes you happy. I get to wear whatever I want, and the scenery is gorgeous.
I've built dry stacked stone walls. Can't beat the feeling of satisfaction knowing they will stand for over a century.
If you haven't already picked up a copy, you would probably enjoy the excellent book, "The Art of the Stonemason".
See here: http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001414.php
See here: http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001414.php
It's neat that I can find someone else who has the same answer as me for something that's mildly obscure, and that this answer has 3 upvotes already. Hackers and stonemasonry, who knew? Makes sense, though.
> You carry all of your tools in your back pocket
That would be cool were it true, but the fact is that all construction work nowadays requires a ton of equipment, stonemasonry included.
That would be cool were it true, but the fact is that all construction work nowadays requires a ton of equipment, stonemasonry included.
I like this opposed to my typical startup work that gets trashed in record time.
I'd probably work in a kitchen or learn woodworking & make cabinets.
Landscaping
I think it would really cool to be a winemaker.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winemaking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winemaking
Agreed.
My father-in-law makes and gives away enough that he's probably violating a few laws about liquor distribution.
He's from Eastern Europe and everyone he knew made wine. It's amazing how interesting his wine tastes compared to the bottled variety. No sulfites, no ingredients other than grapes.
It tastes best about 9 months after it was created and goes south after about a year. The craziest thing, though, is that at about month 12 it starts to sparkle a little. Nothing serious like Champaign, but a bit of tingle on the tongue (and it hits you a little quicker imo).
There's only a few downsides:
1) Fruit flies. Oh man. It's bad. When I assisted him last year the first stage of filtering, we poured the waste out and it looked like half of it was dirt... except the dirt was moving. He does it in his garage so for about three months there's a thin layer of flies over everything in there and enough get into the house to make it sufficiently annoying.
2) Pressing is hard work and the amount that he makes, just about every other step in the process is very tedious. Part of that is because he refuses to use anything resembling modern equipment. It's all hard labour.
3) The temptation to turn the wine into Brandy always looms. Which is a great idea and produces fantastic truly snifter worthy brandy, but also runs the risk of burning your house down.
It's worth it though. Even the labour, since in the end you have natures best pain killer as your reward.
My father-in-law makes and gives away enough that he's probably violating a few laws about liquor distribution.
He's from Eastern Europe and everyone he knew made wine. It's amazing how interesting his wine tastes compared to the bottled variety. No sulfites, no ingredients other than grapes.
It tastes best about 9 months after it was created and goes south after about a year. The craziest thing, though, is that at about month 12 it starts to sparkle a little. Nothing serious like Champaign, but a bit of tingle on the tongue (and it hits you a little quicker imo).
There's only a few downsides:
1) Fruit flies. Oh man. It's bad. When I assisted him last year the first stage of filtering, we poured the waste out and it looked like half of it was dirt... except the dirt was moving. He does it in his garage so for about three months there's a thin layer of flies over everything in there and enough get into the house to make it sufficiently annoying.
2) Pressing is hard work and the amount that he makes, just about every other step in the process is very tedious. Part of that is because he refuses to use anything resembling modern equipment. It's all hard labour.
3) The temptation to turn the wine into Brandy always looms. Which is a great idea and produces fantastic truly snifter worthy brandy, but also runs the risk of burning your house down.
It's worth it though. Even the labour, since in the end you have natures best pain killer as your reward.
Restore WWII-era aircraft
Novelist (I could write long hand or use a typewriter to meet the "job that a computer is not (or almost) used" criterion )
Forest Preserve Ranger
I'd be a farmer. I raise blueberry bushes as my weekend hobby right now and doing it full time I could get some animals.
Catamaran owner in the Caribbean.
How would you generate an income from that profession?
Charge tourists for day trips.
Load up 20-40 tourists on the catamaran (based on the size), and charge them something like $40-50 each.
Costs (other than the boat itself and local fees/taxes) would be a crew of 2 or 3, food and booze, and whatever cut the local resorts get for referrals.
Biggest challenge would likely be to make sure the tourists don't get too drunk and fall overboard. (seen it happen once, the captain wasn't pleased).
Load up 20-40 tourists on the catamaran (based on the size), and charge them something like $40-50 each.
Costs (other than the boat itself and local fees/taxes) would be a crew of 2 or 3, food and booze, and whatever cut the local resorts get for referrals.
Biggest challenge would likely be to make sure the tourists don't get too drunk and fall overboard. (seen it happen once, the captain wasn't pleased).
Farming, like my grandfather.
motorcycle repair / restoration
Sean: So what do you really want to do?
Will: I wanna be a shepherd.
Sean: Really.
Will: I wanna move up to Nashua, get a nice little spread, get some sheep and tend to them.
Will: I wanna be a shepherd.
Sean: Really.
Will: I wanna move up to Nashua, get a nice little spread, get some sheep and tend to them.
But he didn't really mean it. He was just mocking the doc, right? That's how I remember it at least. He just wanted to do construction work like the rest of his friends.
Carpenter, Cabinet Maker, Machinist, Welder, Luthier or other instrument maker.. take your pick, although it doesn't really count since I already do, or have done all of those.
Journalist
build custom cycles.
That's a tough one. I have many interests outside of computers. I think the top two to decide between would be:
1. Alpine skiing instructor, while training to eventually become a mountain guide.
2. Chef. Probably specializing in pastries. I love cooking, but I'd need to go to culinary school before I could do it for a living.
1. Alpine skiing instructor, while training to eventually become a mountain guide.
2. Chef. Probably specializing in pastries. I love cooking, but I'd need to go to culinary school before I could do it for a living.
Carpenter. Furniture, cabinetry, etc.
Also: Run a comedy theater.
Before I started college, I pretty much had two directions I wanted to go. Either go to college(for CS) or earn a Master Electricians license. I went with the former, however I sometimes wish I had gone the other direction.
Soooooo.... The manual job for me would have been an Electrician. I have friends that chose this route and are doing very well for themselves now. Good pay, make your own hours, potential to start your own business, etc. Manual labor in my opinion is extremely underrated, especially when it comes to trade related work. College is pushed so hard to high schoolers these days, that nobody considers alternative paths. Just like earning a college degree, I think you can lead a good life and possibly become extremely successful applying your skills to learning a trade.
Soooooo.... The manual job for me would have been an Electrician. I have friends that chose this route and are doing very well for themselves now. Good pay, make your own hours, potential to start your own business, etc. Manual labor in my opinion is extremely underrated, especially when it comes to trade related work. College is pushed so hard to high schoolers these days, that nobody considers alternative paths. Just like earning a college degree, I think you can lead a good life and possibly become extremely successful applying your skills to learning a trade.
Ask your local SysAdmin; you can do ok without a degree even without going into 'the trades'
Barista.
Large House Blend $2.00. Bagel and Cream Cheese $1.49. Handing someone a cup of coffee and seeing that smile on their face, Priceless.
There are some jobs you get just for the money. For everything else, there is Barista.
Large House Blend $2.00. Bagel and Cream Cheese $1.49. Handing someone a cup of coffee and seeing that smile on their face, Priceless.
There are some jobs you get just for the money. For everything else, there is Barista.
fix computer hardware :p
Maybe keep bees
Kung Fu Instructor.
Artist.
Cook.
I'm actually working on all 3 right now, hoping to switch in the future.
I'm actually working on all 3 right now, hoping to switch in the future.
chef
vw/porsche mechanic. It's what I grew up doing and I would actually love to do it again. If I had more hours in the day I would code and build engines.
You may enjoy photos of my friend's shop: flat6.com
Open a used bookstore.
Are you rich already? These are even less viable than regular bookstores today. I've had a few conversations with people that own such shops and they always seem to be bleeding out the family trust, year by year.
Yes, but we are speaking of a world without computers; without computers (and the 'net) used bookstores would be quite viable.
I worked part time as a volunteer for a used bookstore once that was run by the public library. All profits from the bookstore get put back into the library and all full time workers were library employees who got paid from them.
Plumber. My father is one and my grandfather also was one. Modern heaters are incredibly complex. But sadly one's work isn't going to last: modern heaters last only about 10–20 years and plumbing lasts only between 10–50 years.
even copper?
Yeah. Apparently there's often the issue that pipes are too tight for the flow in there.
There's a line running to the faucet, containing hot water. Near the faucet, this line splits and one of them continues to the faucet while the other one goes back to the heater where its contents are pumped into the heater. This keeps the water near the faucet warm. There are other methods for that, but that one is common. And because the pipes are too tight for that flow, there's cavitation at bends inside the pipe, which destroys it over time.
There's a line running to the faucet, containing hot water. Near the faucet, this line splits and one of them continues to the faucet while the other one goes back to the heater where its contents are pumped into the heater. This keeps the water near the faucet warm. There are other methods for that, but that one is common. And because the pipes are too tight for that flow, there's cavitation at bends inside the pipe, which destroys it over time.
Hot water return systems are not part of "normal" residential plumbing. They are energy wasting, obnoxious high-end stuff that you expect to find in what they call a "McMansion". The electric pumps they use last much less than the 10 to 20 years you mention. A plumber who considered himself a craftsman, say having given up a higher paying computer job to build nice plumbing systems, would not install one.
But if he did, it would not cavitate. If you have observed shorter life in the joints near those pumps, it is because the pipe corrode faster there because they are always at a higher temperature, just as the hot water outlet on a water heater always corrodes before the cold water inlet.
But if he did, it would not cavitate. If you have observed shorter life in the joints near those pumps, it is because the pipe corrode faster there because they are always at a higher temperature, just as the hot water outlet on a water heater always corrodes before the cold water inlet.
Hm. Didn't know that. After all, I'm not a plumber, just someone whose father is one.
Chef!
I've always hoped to open my own restaurant someday.
I'd be able to sleep at night.
Shoot myself.
I think that's a horrible attitude for an entrepreneur; there's a massive world of possibility out there, only a limited subset of which exists in the computer. If the tech industry vanished tomorrow, for whatever reason, what would be so bad about becoming a master builder, or a chef, or some other form of craftsman?
Or a teacher, a storyteller, or any number of other professions?
Is life so bad without computers that death is really an option?
Maybe I'm weird, but I've loved almost every form of work I've done; the politics and management haven't always been great, but for the most part, the work itself has always been enjoyable... and that goes for everything from fast food and mounting tires on cars, to drywall, to writing software and building robust networks.
Or a teacher, a storyteller, or any number of other professions?
Is life so bad without computers that death is really an option?
Maybe I'm weird, but I've loved almost every form of work I've done; the politics and management haven't always been great, but for the most part, the work itself has always been enjoyable... and that goes for everything from fast food and mounting tires on cars, to drywall, to writing software and building robust networks.
It was meant to be tongue in cheek. I actually don't write code for a living (anymore). My computer usage is probably about 4 hrs a day and I'm actively engaged in trying to get that number lower. So I agree there is much to be said for jobs outside of tech.