The Mumble
©2008

Met an old acquaintance couple days back, haven’t seen them in a very long time. Since High School in fact. That was quite a few years ago.

We chatted about mutual friends, life, a little politics, ranted about the price of gas. You know how that goes.

In passing the question was asked. “What do you do these days?”

He is an Executive in Marketing for a soft drink company.

I told him what I did.

He got a ‘look’, I could see it in his eyes. All he said was “Oh.” Suddenly he had to be elsewhere.
Now that’s a little more extreme than most who react with disdain when learning what I do for a living. And for some reason it stirred more than small amount of anger. Normally I ignore it.

No, I’m not a drug dealer, nor a pimp, not a Tax Collector either.

I am a Marine Rigger, I’m the guy who puts your boat together after it’s hull is built. And fixed the boat-side stuff when it breaks. I leave the motor work to some one else.

I work with my hands, when I’m working it’s not a mouse, pen, pencil or papers I hold, It’s a wrench, screwdriver, hammer, air tool. I make things, build things, fix things that are broken. I do use a lot of high-tech, but it’s not my primary tool. Most of my time is spent turning wrenches, twisting screwdrivers, running an air-tool.

And of late more and more people see that type of work as undignified, a Career unfit for their children. Skilled Tradesmen and Craftsmen are looked down on by many, seen as crooks who overcharge everyone who uses them. Most of us never attended college, some by choice, others by economic circumstance. I happen to have several hours of college credit, but that’s beside the point.

You know us, we have some dirt under of fingernails, our work clothes are often dirty, we have scars, many of us walk a little funny because we got hurt at one time or another. Many see us as knuckle-dragging Neanderthals, unfit for polite company. I am forced to admit a lot of us are more than a little rough around the edges. But most are good men and women who truly know what cold, hot, dirty, dangerous work is.

We built this Country, and we keep it running. We’re the folks who build, then keep all those nice toys you have working. We build the roads you drive on, keep the power on, water running, all the myriad tasks modern society has to have to function. Many of us have thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars invested in tools. Often we’ve spent years learning our craft. It’s not Rocket Science, but it’s not for the brain-dead either.

If I took in someone who had never worked around or on a boat? It would take about three years before he could be good enough to turn loose. Another three before he mastered the Craft. And about eight thousand dollars invested in a basic set of tools. Another five to seven grand before his toolbox could be complete. I realize that’s not a great deal of investment compared to any number of White Collar Careers. But I will point out the strain of a limited budget because of the income disparities. Also, the costs never stop completely, there’s always something new added to the equipment that requires a new tool. I figure it into my budget, rounding it to $100.00 a month, sometimes it’s more, sometimes less. But that’s an average. On an average income of 30KPY(gross), do the math.

But, many customers don’t look at it that way. They want it fixed three days ago, for free. Ignoring the time, training and cost of tools the Craftsman has invested.

There’s an old story I keep in mind.

Factory came to a screeching halt when a vital piece of equipment stopped working. The Maintenance guys worked on it for hours, couldn’t repair it. Finally the Management called an outside Contractor.

Man comes in, sets his toolbox down and walks around the Machine, studying it closely.

He nods, opens his toolbox, takes out a four pound hammer and whacks a part of the Machine soundly. It starts, the factory begins running again.

The Contractor sends the bill, $1000.00, the Management has a fit, he’d only been on-site for less than 30 minutes. The call the Contractor and demand an itemized bill.

It comes, they look it over and pay it without further complaints.

The itemized bill.

1:Striking machine to loosen stuck regulator valve. $100.00
2:Knowing where to hit it $900.00

Modern machinery, from the motor on your boat, to the drive train of your automobile to the aircraft in the sky are incredibly complex, very technical and often difficult to install, diagnose and repair. Someone has to do it, and should be compensated and respected for their skills and abilities. We know where to hit it.

If you do this kind of work, you’ll have to both love it, and take deep pride in it. The pay scale for many has fallen behind on the economic curve. When I began you could make a decent living as an Marine or Auto Mechanic, Electrician, add your own to the list. Now, many who start learning will drop out. They might love the work, but can’t afford to do it. It simply doesn’t pay enough for the cost. Society must support those who choose a career as a Tradesman or Craftsman. Even when robots are doing the work, someone will have to fix and program those robots for the foreseeable future.

Yeah, we’re still out here, and yeah sooner or later you’ll need us. Be nice when you do.