I am a retired firefighter/paramedic with 30 years experience, a
respiratory thearapist with over 10 years experience and a pilot/flight
instructor with about 2000 flight hours, I have also worked as a
photographer for a small daily newspaper, a second unit set medic on
several motion pictures and as an exotic animal trainer.   I am
looking for a job or at least an idea for a position that combines at
least 2 of the above positions/skills. Although my favorite job has
been as a paramedic I am too old to work as a field paramedic, flying
does not pay enough to pay the bills and working in a hospital as a
respiratory therapist, while it pays well, is kind of boring.

Bottom line, I am looking for an interesting position that pays fairly
well, OFFERS GOOD JOB SECURITY and is not to awfully difficult to
find. I do not enjoy sales 

I WILL GIVE A LARGE TIP FOR A VERY GOOD WELL THOUGHT OUT ANSWER

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Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 02 Jun 2006 22:40 PDT

Hello lkf-ga,

What are your geographic limits? Opportunities in some/all of your
skills and talents will vary by location.

As a career counselor and job search coach I have to raise a red flag
about your requirement that the position "OFFERS GOOD JOB SECURITY."
In this day and age I don't think there are any jobs that offer "good
job security." In addition, how much is "pays fairly well?" I also
caution you about the difficulties of getting a job because of your
age. No one wants to admit it, but age discrimination is fairly
rampant. You are looking for a unique opportunity and companies /
organizations with run-of-the-mill jobs will not find you attractive.

You have a very interesting skill set but I don't know how to begin to
answer your question. What would constitute a satisfactory answer?
Your best bet might be to start your own business instead of looking
for a job.

I look forward to your clarification.

~ czh ~

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Clarification of Question by lkf-ga on 02 Jun 2006 23:03 PDT

To: CZH,

Answers to your questions:

1, I am willing and able to move/work in almost any of the 48 states,
I am licensed as a respiratory therapist in TX, VT, PA and MA and as a
paramedic in TX and PA.

2, I am currently working in a hospital night shift as a respiratory
therapist and make around $55,000. per year,  moneys good, job sucks. 
Money isn't everything but I enjoy eating and playing.

3. Job security,  pay checks that don't bounce and steady work.

4. I am 51 years old, and I am not looking for a run of the mill job.

5. I was in business for myself until 9/11 when I was grounded for 3
months and had to sell the business.

I hope the clarifies my question, if not let me know.

If you enjoy photography and like to work with animals, I have a
suggestion. An acquaintance of mine used to make a nice income in
northern California taking portrait-style photos of people's pets, in
their homes. He started his business by putting little ads on bulletin
boards in supermarkets and pet-supply stores, and gradually he got
enough word-of-mouth business that his slate was full and he was
turning people away.

Great idea, Pink.

It's wonderful how One Man businesses can flourish by Word of Mouth.

For example, I hired an Odd Job Man to do some work on my house. He
soon proved to be very talented and industrious, so I gave him more
work.

My next-door neighbour then recruited him, as did my Daughter #1, then
my Cleaner recommended him to her friend, and finally my Daughter #2
now wants him.

So, if the Questioner were to do a few great jobs ...

Who knows?

Me? I would start off in Tulsa where I know of a very wealthy lady
with over a hundred cats! (I bet that she has now lost count.)

PB

pinkfreud and probonopublico,  

Good ideas, but at this time I am not in a position to start my own
business. I am still recovering from 9/11.  As far as animal
photographer I tried it many years ago and unless ypu are really good,
which I am not. I was a small town news photographer and I am not an
artist or very artistic.

I guess what I am looking for is a "nich (sp)? job, something unusual,
differentor outright weird that pays the bills. There is little call
for freelance monkey trainers and if there were the pay sucks.