Career?
What's that?
After college (which I didn't finish the first time around) was a bike messenger, then a private security guard, then an armored truck driver, then a fork lift driver, then a security supervisor (same job as before, but with a gun and a patrol car) - then drove halfway across the country and was a live-in nanny for my 2 year old 1/2 cousin, then worked as a carnie (setting up and operating rides), then drove the rest of the way across the country and worked as a bike messenger in Manhattan, then a street fundraiser for Save the Children and GreenPeace, then worked in a seafood warehouse, then a tungsten factory, drove back to CA worked as an administrative assistant for a contractor, went back to college and got associate degrees in biology, earth science, economics, and liberal arts (plus EMT and reserve police officer certificates).
I didn't stay at any one job for more than 10 months. In between I worked shorter gigs, lasting from one day to 2 weeks, including HVAC technician, TV commercial actor, ditch digger, cold calling ad sales, medical test subject, "adult" actor, driving imported cars from the ship yard to the train yard. I think there was more, but I can't remember what.
At the age of 26, when I graduated college, my plan was to become a park ranger (hence the biology and earth sci degrees, and emt and police certs). Went through a long application process, tests, psychological evaluations, interview board, obstacle course, passed them all, was offered the job about one week before budget cuts eliminated the position.
While I was looking for another park ranger job, I posted an ad on Craigslist that I had a (biodiesel powered truck) truck and could move stuff in and/or do minor repairs. It was supposed to be a way to pick up a little side cash until I was able to start my real "career"
That was six years ago. Biodiesel Hauling is a certified green business, and jobs are 100% repeats and referrals.
It still remains my primary source of income, but six months after I started the hauling/delivery/handyman work, I also started working part-time at a little non-profit community bike shop that offers free indoor valet day parking for bicycle commuters. In 2009 I joined the US Coast Guard reserve, and spend a couple days a month doing training and search and rescue missions in the SF Bay. In addition I work for the local bicycle coalition supervising the volunteers at festivals and other special events spring through fall, I write the blog for ecomodder.com, and I run the local polling place each election.
Total income between 4 jobs is approximately $35k, which is by far the most I have ever made in my life (half my adult years I earned 10k or less).
I paid the last of my debt and opened an IRA on February 18th, 2010, and current savings and investments stands at $33,500 for about a 35% savings rate.
I'm currently saving for a downpayment on a two unit house. I plan to rent both units out, at least at first, but I may move into one of them eventually. At my level of spending I expect the rent from one would pay the majority of my living expenses, the rent from both should pay all of my living expenses with plenty left over for saving. Assuming I can get a loan, (given my lack of a traditional job), I could be FI in 1-2 years (4 years after I started actually trying to be conscious of saving).