Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Retirement - July 31, 2019

Smokey Bear kicking back at the Forest Service Washington DC office - August 2000
July 31, 2019 was my last day working for the Forest Service after 33 years. I began my career with the Forest Service as an Ecologist on the Six  
Humboldt State University Ecology class field trip to a Nature Conservancy Preserve in Northern California - May 1983 — at The Nature Conservancy in California.
Rivers National Forest on June 1986 right after graduating from Humboldt State University with a Master of Science degree in Natural Resources. 
My dream job was to work as a field Ecologist,
Dressed up in my Humboldt State University graduation garb - June 1986
riding horses in pristine wilderness areas, gathering data and, of course, saving the planet. As a Forest Service Ecologist, I was occasionally able to ride horses in pristine wilderness areas but in reality, my job primarily required 
Me riding "Lightning" during one of my dream job moments collecting field data in the Marble Mountain Wilderness in Northern California. Note: Lightning was very well behaved and did not live up to his name except for when he got stung by yellow jackets on his belly - August 22, 1988
a more conventional method of getting around in the field, i.e. hiking.  After working as an Ecologist for about six years, I discovered there was a real need for people to develop databases that could be
Me photographing rare lily on the Six Rivers National Forest - 1988
used to compile and analyze the data that was being collected. At that time, the Forest Service was just getting started with computers and needed people with database skills. So, seeing an opportunity, I switched gears and became an Information Technology Specialist. My job 
Me working as an Information Technology Specialist at Portland Forestry Sciences Lab, Portland, OR
as an IT Specialist included developing Forest and Region wide databases that were used to better manage Forest Service resources. In some ways, this time was probably the most satisfying period of my Forest Service career. Eventually, after 13 years on the Six Rivers National Forest I changed positions and  moved to Vancouver, Washington where I worked as a System
My old office at the Forest Service Region 6 Regional Office in Portland, OR- July 31, 2019
Administrator and provided user computer support on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. After about three years on the Gifford Pinchot NF, I moved to  the Portland Forestry Sciences Lab in Portland, Oregon where I worked as a the System Administrator and provided user computer support. After three years at the Portland Forestry Science Lab, I moved to the Region 6 Regional Office in Portland, Oregon where I again worked as the System Administrator and provided user computer support until I retired on July 31, 2019.
Me exercising my legs and right-brain along the Columbia River with Mt. Hood in the background - August 1, 2019
Retirement is still a little surreal and hasn’t quite set in. The left side of my brain enjoyed the challenge of working as a computer System Administrator but I am now looking forward to challenging my
right-brain. I’m also looking forward to lots of
Me and my favorite furry four legged friend
travel adventures, rediscovering old hobbies, bicycling and spending more time with family and friends (including the furry four legged kind). 

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