What do/did you do for a living?

Lifelong Audio Engineer, with current focus on acoustics for wearables.
I was lucky enough to be a part of a artist co-op in Worcester, MA back when I was young. Had my first live sound gig at age 15.
Worked in the antiques industry for a while before going back to college. First gig out of college was lead recording engineer for a Hip Hop record label, it was amazing. But collapsed in 2008 with the rest of the music industry.
Got into computer audio, as I didn’t have it in me to try to “make it” as a producer...
Now work as an acoustic test engineer for a smart watch company. And have a super sweet modular synth. Play music anytime I can, and am happy to do a show now and again, will prolly release another album under a new project.
My job/life in a nutshell :)

Currently working as a business analyst, (I make pretty graphs and charts).  I picked up most of my gear when I was a AV installer in the Seattle area.  Most of the gear was donated to me or sold at an extreme discount by the customers that were replacing the old stuff.  Just asked them what they wanted to do with the old gear and cables.  most of the time is was throw it out or take it.  occasionally it was, 'how about $xx?'  where xx was ~10 - 20% of retail.

I'm a surgeon, retired for nearly 20 years now. I entered passable HiFi with a Sony integrated, KLH bookshelf speakers, a Garrard turntable, and a TEAC cassette player  --around 1971-- and went from there. Unfortunately I had more money over the years than technical savvy. But I still love great music played realistically and LOUD!  What is bandied about here is 'WAY beyond me!!... Best to all, Sam

What a great question. I now have a much better understanding of my audiophile cohorts. 75, retired at 70. 25 yrs in scientific instrument mfg. Wound down with 10 yrs working in R&D unit of an old line US company.  Always in operations and mgt. I have been hocked on audio, since the night my dad hooked up his old crystal set and put the headphones on me. It was magic and it never went away. My dad had worked in radio before WWll- think I caught the bug from him. When a was a teenager I built Heathkits and Eico stuff.  Built my own less than perfect speakers and never had enough money to do any better. It didn’t matter. I wanted to hear the music. I have to say, that as much as I would love to spend 100k for a system, I just can’t see it.  Every time I look thru the Stereophile recommenced equipment issue I am blown out the water. It’s crazy.   But regardless of the prices it is so cool to see such an amazing supply of beautifully designed and built audio gear. It thought my hobby was going to just rust away. Man I’m glad I was wrong.  As someone who has been around for awhile, spend your money the way you want, enjoy audio. But, leave enough in the bank for dog food 

Retired manuals translator (Japanese-to-English), technical writer.