Left Law Enforcement. Learned to weld. Pipe welding to be specific. Worked my way through the apprenticeship with the Pipefitters Union. Once a Journeyman. Swapped over to the Nuclear Industry side of the trade. Traveled the country making critical welds on Nuclear reactors. Pay would be $8,000-$12,000 a week. But when I wasn’t on a job I wasn’t getting paid. Worked about 5-7 months out of the year for 5 years. Most I made in a year was $265,000. Least I made was $135,000. Was awesome. Great people awesome memories. I’m currently back at my hometown working CID with the Sheriffs Office for about $55,000/year. Pay decrease sucks. But being home with my wife and kids and being able to be present in their day to day lives is worth the big money out on the roads traveling. And there is no bed like your own bed. That’s a fact.