I've been a maintenace electrician for to many years and have to say it has always been chalenging and never a lack of discovering new ways equipment and machinery can break down. I get to fix it.
Some years back after our steel mill closed, I worked about two and a half years for the Santa Fe Railroad as a shop electrician. That job SUCKED and so did the AT&SF. Idiots running it and wanting all its employees to be idiots and succeeding. It's no wonder they merged with Burlington Northern.
I really hate the work inviornment at the Aluminum Plant where I work at now, but the schedule, pay and benifets tell me to stick it out for six more years. My work schedule allows me 1 week off every month. Add that to the three weeks of vaction time, that is 15 weeks of time off a year. I have had some good paying music gigs, but some of my best and most enjoyable gigs have been donated or for expenses at folk festivals. The worst gig I ever did was for Jaycees here in town for a fair amount of money of which I donated half back, but I smelled trouble the minute they asked me to play and sing while everyone was dishing up their food. The whole experience was a bummer. Last year I played a smoke free Pub and was skeptical about playing loud beer bars. WRONG...it was a very rewarding gig. I guess we learn as we go along.
Mudjack