Career paths in shepherding
Published by Becky S March 15th, 2005 in tech, miscellaneous fluff, favorite
I’ve been in the Information Technology (IT) biz for almost ten years. During that time we got some exciting stuff like the Internet, Y2K hysteria, dot coms, and dot bombs. I’ve adjusted from the comforting world of programming in COBOL/IMS/CICS on a central mainframe to the mysterious world of n-gazillion-tier applications and Microsoft certifications that expire every other month.
IT has been a fun ride, but it’s time to consider new career options. Last year, at the advice of What Color is Your Parachute, I was planning to start a cult, but the current real estate bubble has made it difficult to acquire land for the regional compound. So in the meantime, I’m thinking about becoming a shepherd. The work day would go something like this:
- 08:00: arrive at sheep pen
- 08:00 – 08:30: take sheep to a meadow, preferably one filled with wildflowers and located on the side of a beautiful Alpine mountain
- 08:30 – 12:00: sit under a tree and read; dog* will chase any misbehaving sheep
- 12:00 – 13:00: eat a delicious lunch of cheese and beer
- 13:00 – 14:30: write weblog posts on tablet PC
- 14:30 – 15:00: exercise by jogging around meadow and saying “hi” to sheep
- 15:00 – 16:30: read and write in journal
- 16:30 – 17:00: take sheep back to pen
Do any shepherds read this weblog? If so, please feel free to post helpful career-changing tips and job leads.
*Investing in a good dog is the key to a successful shepherding career.
career favorite geek miscellaneous fluff tech
Hmmm… two “livestock” posts in a row. Let me know if you end up needing some new gear like overalls and/or mesh “trucker” caps (non-ironic variety) — we have all of that stuff here in Texas and I can probably get a good deal for you.
Actually, if you count the Phanatic, that’s three livestock posts in a row!
I already have some overalls, but I’ll let you know if I need some hats for job interviews.
Becky,
Are you truly inspired to be a shepherd(ess)or is the adorable frolicking lamb clipart your motivation for this post? You do realize you will most likely live in a hut–don’t you? And you will still have to shepherd in sub-freezing temperatures. If you think about it, you really are a shepherd already–both for work and by blogging. Just start having a beer and cheese lunch ast work and you’ll be good to go.
…saying “hi” to sheep.
So that’s what they call it these days.
Clair, don’t be disgusting. There are other weblogs for talk like that.
Sassy, I really do want to be a shepherd–the cute clip art is just an added bonus. Of course I would only shepherd in good weather, and I would get around the whole living-in-a-hut issue by commuting from Fairmount.
(slapping self on head) why didn’t I think of that?
substituting shooting close-up pictures of sheep parts and wildflowers for the journal writing, naturally.
Becky, I really like the description of that potential new career. As a matter of fact, it sounds so good to me right now that might consider it myself.
Of course, I’d have to move to a warmer climate because sheep herding in Quebec could only be seasonal, unless I herd sled dogs or something during our 5 months of winter.
Does that exist? Sled dog herding? What animal would I use to chase any misbehaving sled dogs, though? Maybe a moose! Can those be trained for that?
I’ll have to look into all that.
I don’t see why you couldn’t train up a moose, Splurge.
Tip: make sure your HR shepherds deduct Quebec taxes from your paycheck!
Couldn’t you just train the sled dogs to herd themselves?
Oy! Becky! Don’t burst my bubble! In my dream, shepherds don’t pay taxes! (specifically because of the problem I’m facing right now!)
And Clair, that is a good question! It may actually be possible to train sled dogs to herd themselves… I hadn’t thought of that! But, I think there would be a certain amout of awe in watching a great big moose with huge antlers running around, herding dogs.
I’m sticking with the moose option!
mmm… sheep’s milk cheese….
I’m really disapointed about the cult thing. Is there any chance?
Now Deidre wants a cult. She already thinks she’s a goddess
Having recently returned from New Zealand, it appears that the sheep herding business has gone a bit more high tech. Shepherds live in houses with electricity, running water, sewage hookups, telephones and internet access. Most of them have cell phones, and the rolling hill country has fairly good coverage.
A lot of the work involves taking the sheep here and guiding the sheep there. The shepherds we saw tended to get about using four wheel all terrain vehicles towing small carts, each equipped with four well trained sheep dogs. These are not pet dogs, and those among us familiar with dogs as house pets would find their training austere.
Still, all this training pays off. For example, we had to stop while the sheep blocked the road. As the ATV approached, the shepherd made a hand signal, “deploy dog two”, and dog two jumped off the cart and began nipping the sheep through the gate on the far side to clear the road for us. We were impressed.
So, don’t think of sheep herding as some old fashioned, pastoral, lie on your ass and wait for the cows, I mean sheep, to come home sort of job. It’s modern, it’s high tech, it’s shepherding today!
Hey! Lay off the clip art! That’s a cute little critter!
hah! i’m laughing because, do you know how many times i’ve said i just want to go herd sheep in greece or something when i’m frustrated?
*sigh* seems like a decent gig. especially when you break it down like that.
Kaleberg, I was kinda hoping for a pastoral gig. Thanks for your insights–I (and Sarcomical) may have to consider a different career.
Thanks, Joe N. I will certainly not lay off the clip art!
Deidre is free to have her own cult, as long as she doesn’t mess with mine. Is there any chance for my cult? I just have to wait until the housing bubble bursts.
Becky–
I have a friend in upstate NY who really is a shepherdess (and loves it). Also an expert dog trainer, one of the best in the US.
If you’d like to read more, here’s her (highly informative) website.
Some bad news, but not the end of the world, I guess.
well as an australian who already herds sheep for a living, I can’t iamgine that you could possibly have to worry about herding sheepr in the winter over there. they’d most likely just be put into a shed over the long cold winter months. after all, if there’s snow on the ground, where are the poor sheep going to find their grass?