We all do shit just to make money.
I'm in my line of work because my friend is doing it and he seemed cool. I knew nothing about what it was.
I'm fairly lucky I was born when I was. I didn't go to college, but you could still find your way to a decent job without it. When I started surveying, crews were big enough to have a dummy on board that learned as they went. Now, crews are too small, and pretty much everyone has to know what they're doing from the start.
I don't get on very well with school. I find it boring, and too much of it is pointless. I'm more task oriented. I have a problem, then learn what it takes to solve it, then build on that. I've considered taking courses, but in what, I don't know. I would actually pay to learn tree care, but I haven't seen anything close, and I'm getting too old anyway. I thought I wanted to get into IT, but when I was applying for jobs, I was scared I'd actually get one. Reading forums like this, makes the office environment sound *very* unattractive. I'm not interested n a bunch of nonsense. I just want a technical job to do, and be left alone to do it.
All said, I ended up in a pretty good place. It suits me well enough. I'm a big fish in a small pond, making fairly small money by ATOT standards, but have a whole lot of freedom most people don't have. When this company's done(boss is getting old), I might try to get on with a tree service company. The pay would be trivial, but it'll pass time, and I can do something I want to do. Alternative is keep on surveying. I wouldn't do it for another survey company, but I'm about 90% sure I could have a job tomorrow working directly for my favorite client doing construction layout. That wouldn't be so bad.