[Farm-Ranch-Homestead]

I worked in the electric utility industry for 35 years, primarily on the maintenance side of things. I was schooled in the electrical trade, but also had a lot of on-the-job training in mechanical skills as well as numerous other related skills.

For several years I worked in the division safety office and worked with multiple trades, learning bits and pieces of each trade. I am familiar with many maintenance and construction trades, but am not an expert in any of them (except electrical).

I have also dabbled in computers since I was a teenager in the 1980s, and am experienced in building PCs, having built many of my own, plus numerous others for other people. I have installed the OS on each of my builds, although most of my builds get Linux installed rather than windows.

I did a little bit of coding back when we called it “programming,” although most of that was in the now-obsolete “Basic” computer language. I am relatively comfortable installing programs (that’s what they were called before the term “apps” came into common usage), although troubleshooting them when they misbehave is often a bit more difficult for me.

I am also a licensed General class amateur (ham) radio operator, and a licensed GMRS radio operator. I am relatively familiar with the various radio services available to the general public, including CB, FRS, GMRS, MURS, and Amateur. There is a lot more to radio than just getting a hand-held ham radio and talking to other people…

In my never-ending quest for more knowledge, I have learned a lot about homesteading and the various aspects of it (farming, animal husbandry, canning/preserving, etc.). Although I don’t consider myself an expert in any of these areas, I am constantly learning, and I’m willing to share whatever knowledge I can.