Why I like Nuclear Power

[darkmatter]

Just curious, answer the Poll, why are you here?

[Phurst]

All the above.

[HydroDave63]

It is one of the better paying fields of work which one can enter with only a DD-214 and no college degree in hand.

Besides, at this point, it's all I know how to do  

[PWHoppe]

I can't do nuttin' else

[HousePuke]

It pays the bills.  Meet some interesting folks.  Get to visit cool websites like this one.

[Austria]

As if I'd rather have a so called "real job". Haven't found another job yet where I can live anywhere I want....have a (somewhat) flexible schedule and loads of time off.   And besides, there really are a lot of interesting and fun folks to work with out there.  

[Roll Tide]

It is one of the better paying fields of work which one can enter with only a DD-214 and no college degree in hand.

Besides, at this point, it's all I know how to do  

You got that right! I tried non-nuclear for a while after getting kicked out of the canoe club for exceeding the needs of the Navy (Food for Freedom ) and my skills are worth little outside this industry. When I went back into nuclear, I made more than my wife and I made together from the "between" years.

I noticed a recent study showing the top 50 paying careers in the country, and only air traffic controllers and nuclear control room operators didn't require a degree. When I get more motivated to find the study again, I will provide a link.

If you check, their isn't much diference between operators and HP per hour. Of course, either category has people making much more than their peers by working lots of OT. Maybe there weren't enough HP's working full-time permanent positions to make the survey.

[darkmatter]

So teach me,  what would be the difference between pay and $1000/wk?

The "hide and seek" part.

[Atomic_Punk]

1. I like to reminisce with poeple I've never met.

2. I like southern accents.

3. I like to go places where carp is served in restaurants.

4. I like working with the hygienically challenged.

5. I don't like being a cook.

6. You can go where the Mullet is still in style.

7. I look stylin' in yellow.

8. I like wearing a vehicle out every 5 years.

9. On the serious side, I've made some good friends.

10. I'm not qualified to do anything else, so I'm lucky
    there is Nuclear power.

[Nuclear_Dog]

Because, they let me operate a 1,000,000+ horse power piece of machinery!!  

[Dan_E.]

I got hooked on nuclear work when I was a craft. It has increased the challenges and interest for me after becoming a tech. Man, have I got a lot to learn! [smiley=uhh.gif]

[SloGlo]

even when it's boring, the peeple ain't!  

[korolochka]

TIME OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Fermi2]

Where else do you get the keys to your daddies 2 billion dollar Lincoln?

[allforthenukie]

Where else can a guy who barely graduated high school earn 80K+ per year?

[Doc_REM]

Wish I could have checked ALL of them....
Love the $$$
Love the folk's that I've meant
Love the travel!!!!
Love the neet toy's I get to play with
Love the work...ALWAYS a new challenge
Stress...what stress...just because you have someone's life in your hands......?!!!!!
Besides that after 30 some year's....what else am I going to do?....Hello, Welcome to Wal-mart.....NOT!

[LaFeet]

Time away from home to relax...yeah, I actually relax while working nukes.   Those of you who know me know it is true.

[Mike McFarlin]

By putting your stress on others..ha

[Mike McFarlin]

Show ME the MONEY!!!! Yes the fun is gone and probably for good. The travel gets old too unless its to a new plant but we are running out of them. Just get my $$$$$. I'll take more time off. If that where these shorter outages are going to. And when they start this 48hr/wk crap, well you will need 500 techs to staff a job. Glad I'm not recruiting anymore!

[Roll Tide]

There are few legal activities I am qualified to perform with similar pay to nuclear, and none of them allow as much time with family. The money is good in nuclear, but I would live on half the money if I hated the job.

[Gonzo]

You can say it's only for the money...  but where else should i rather be?  from the green dye on st paddy's day, giving mark the queen or to finding the missing link, i've been way entertained all these years...   put me down for a new catagory..   for the comedy

[dks860]

I have a degree where I could potentially earn much more.  I just love what I do and I take my job seriously.  I like being able to pick and choose where I go, I don't want a full time job all year round, and I like the change of scenery.  At the plants where I wouldn't want to return, doesn't matter how much they pay, I'll gladly go somewhere that pays less but treats you better.

dks860

[Brett LaVigne]

I am not sure that I do yet...I have been out of the business for 8 years and have my first outage back this fall.  After getting married I quit and did some other things, had a baby (well...the wife did all of the work there) etc.
I recently was downsized out of my job and decided to do a couple of outages/year and see how it works out.
I do remember that I loved being a H.P.  The money is good but it isn't the only way to make a good living I found out...we'll see...

[incrediblehulk]

I'm now 1 year into my very first non-nuclear job after ~30 years in the biz. I enjoy the work, the pay is decent, and Mrs. Hulk likes to see me every evening (a shock to anyone who knows me).

What I truely miss though are all the wonderful friends we made all over the country. It just doesn't seem right that I can't look forward to the first day of an outage, when you see all your old pals and get caught up on their lives. Who knows, maybe I'll be back out there. I do know I'll last longer at this job than UncaBuffalo at his. BTW Unc- Mrs. Hulk gives you six months at the outside.

[Mike McFarlin]

The work is still interesting even after 28 years. New problems now, that we didn't have back then. Makes you think now and again, which is good. Keeps you from becoming stale.