ronzorini

Graphic designer for 20+ years...

Re-born as a bicycle bag maker (along with my wife).

Started out enjoying design as a "craft". Then came computers and staring at a screen all day. Now I'm back to using my hands...glad I kept my X-acto knife and T-square!

-holiday76

web developer who happens to have worked at the same company for almost 6 years. I get about 5 weeks of vacation a year so that helps. Most of my trips are not longer than two weeks. Some day I hope to take two months and do a cross country trip though.

Black Shuck

I'm here :-)

I work with injection molding machines, producing plumbing components and such in thermoplastics.

tulip

urban planner

brotherdan

There's a folky chick group called the "Ditty Bops" that did a national tour by bicycle a couple of summers ago. They kept all of their instruments in a sag wagon and cruised from the west coast to the east, stopping to play shows along the way. Sounded like a pretty cool tour. Would have been even better without the SAG, in my opinion, but that's just me.

toodman

Transportation/Urban Planner pretending to be a Legislative Analyst (or vice versa).

FCBrian

Non-profit director. 4 weeks vacation. More work in the winter = less work in the summer!

b

jcbryan

Flyer,
What are you specializing in? Need a job in 18 months? PM me.
We need more cyclists!!! THe engineering part helps too.

John

climbhoser

I wholesale financial products to Registered Representatives. Funny, I don't really sell anything, except an idea. The idea is that the rep sends all of YOUR money to me.

It's pretty laid back, I work 40 hours a week and no more. I ride my bike 40 miles a day on my round trip commute and on weekends I have the spendage to do as I please, like take off for two days. Not much time off, only about 3 weeks a year right now, but lots of opportunity for more.

Right now I have a 1 year old that holds me back from touring more than work, though!

sam21fire

USAF aerial photographer. I get a few weeks off at a time...whenever I'm home and can carve out the time.

lubers

Currently helping in rebuilding a old barn and looking for a job, laid off warehouse coordinator.

teamcompi

DMD, small town dentist. I usually take a couple of months a year to tour. Its a good life. Its a really good life when you tour.

sykerocker 

Spent this decade in the parts departments of local motorcycle dealerships: Was the parts manager for the Ducati dealership (since gone bankrupt), now working as a staffer in a Honda shop.

Last decade I was self-employed: Reenactment Sutler, specializing in 16th and 17th century, mostly early American colonies and English Civil War.

Typical, mundane two weeks a year vacation, normally work Tuesday through Saturday, so I do a lot of two-day rides.

Booger1

Automotive machinist for the last 33 years.

jakuma

Developer funded archaeology in the UK.

Losligato

I have to admit, I love this tread!

The question, "What do you do for a living?" means "Who are you?" for far too many people. It is wonderful to see that concept flipped on its head and read how others pay for their adventures.

Lately we've been focusing on both sides of the equation to prepare for our next big trip. Expenses were lowered to near-zero levels when we accepted a position as Apartment Managers for a small complex after returning home from Asia. Rent, utilities, and Internet are all included.

That means virtually all of our income flows into the trip fund. Sales of our book have been inexplicably good lately. We've opened an ebay store where we sell a variety of second-hand cycling, running, and outdoor gear. Amanda is working on her Pilates and Yoga certifications while I lay the groundwork for our next book.

When we begin to feel pressure from others it is important that we remain mindful of the formula:

Income - Expenses = The money to buy the freedom to do what we want

Temptations to spend (mobile phones, cable television, an expensive restaurant meal, a big home) serve as lures, pulling us back toward those people we used to be, the ones who equated what we did to earn money with who we were.

Rowan

It's a means to an end, Losligato. But unfortunately, as you observe, for many people, the end becomes "ends" with so many things vying for priority to spend the income that touring drops further and further down the agenda.

I work to go touring, but I also work to enjoy bicycles. That includes building them and exploring my own neighbourhood (which is a pretty big one).

I have reduced my living expenses to a minimum where I can, and I can plan at least one month-long trip overseas a year (if I so desire). I don't own a motor vehicle and that is a huge start in saving money for travel.

And after careers that have led me to meet prime ministers and move in high circles, as well as to promote cycling for a living, all I am these days is a humble orchard worker... a blue collar worker who enjoys the simple country life and outdoors, and who doesn't miss the city and its people one bit.

JoeLonghair

Supply shops in the UK with Alloy Wheels, Tyres, Body kit & suspension systems, all after market stuff. The good thing is my wife works in my company and really does not like flying, long train journeys and only cycles around the corner, so she is quite happy running the company, my customers rather speak to her than me, too grumpy, which suites me fine