What do/did you do for a living?


With the increasingly high priced items people own and are selling, I'm curious about the line of work people do or have done. I thought my $5k integrated was a massive investment, but seeing users searching for $100k speakers or $75k SET amplifiers has me curious about the varying lines of work people do to afford these items. 
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Looking forward to reading these stories.

As for me, I started out when I was 14 years of age with a Garard table, Stanton and Pickering cartridges, Dynakits and Lafayette speakers.

After college I was working at a calligraphy studio and getting paid like a monk in an abbey. I traded for a pair of Altec 604Cs in garage built cabinets, and bought a Dual 1229 table.

Eventually I gravitated to graphic design firms, then ad agencies. I became a creative director but never made big bucks because I didn’t take it seriously, I was more interested in my career doing public art installations which made almost no money. That latter career took up 90% of my savings.

I am currently old enough to retire but creative people never retire, they keep going until they drop. I’ve started a new business with my wife doing net zero ready renovations of homes with historic, aesthetic character.

The audio system I have today evolved from my teenage system by buying used, store floor models, trading, and the Koetsu Onyx was a gift from a member of a famous 1960s folk rock band who is an environmentalist. That said, my system’s basic configuration has been fairly stable for 35 years.

My current system can be found at theaudioatticvinylsundays.com

Mr Hafler, where are you now that we need you? The whole concept of Dyna was high end audio for the lumpen proletariat. Now, audio mirrors the dysfunctional economic inequality of the society at large. The industry thinks that no dollar amount is subject to the reach of the law of diminishing returns. Today, one can say that the size of a man’s speakers are in inverse proportion to the size of his, well,... use your imagination - and have little relation to true audio appreciation.
What a great question! Secondly, thanks to all that responded. My story started in a house with two older brothers and we all collected and listened to music and enjoyed it tremendously.    I worked in a local marina, refinishing and equipment operator for 10 years. Moved on to plumbing, residential new construction and service for twenty years. Currently employed in local hospital as Union maintenance/ engineer, which I started just before Covid hit. I have one son in college and and another in his senior year in high school. Been married for 23 years to an understanding wife who puts up with my hobbys.   I got back into quality sound with car audio back in the late 90’s. I’m now enjoying a small dedicated room with a humble system which includes an Oppo 105, Rogue Herra, Sherbourn pt-7030,Emotiva xpa5 and my Totem Forrests, Model 1 center and Lynx surrounds. Second system is a Rogue Sphynx with B&W CDM7NT and the turntable from my teenage years, Onkyo Integra.Almost all equipment was financed by side jobs or upgrading existing equipment.
  Its been an enjoyable journey and have met wonderful likeminded people who share the passion of quality music. After all, its always been about the music. Thanks again and be well.
Neuroscientist.  Have studied visual, auditory and infrared systems at the cellular, subcellular, and genetic/molecular levels.  Most recent concentration on neuroimaging (mostly functional magnetic resonance imaging - fMRI) the developing human brain and the effects of extrinsic influences on structural and functional development.  First slaked my interest in audiophilia with Dynaco/AR system.  Magnepan devotee beginning in the late '70's,  Turntable lover, in part because it panders to the satisfaction I get out of tinkering/tailoring the sound to my tastes.  Frequently concertgoer (mostly classical/jazz).  Or I was up until this pandemic hit.