While we’re in the heat of the battle, doing our work and staying current with the latest advancements in our profession — and caring for families — it’s difficult to find time to plan reflectively for the future. Plus, especially when we’re young, tomorrow seems so far off.As pragmatic thinkers, we engineers have no trouble crunching the numbers and solving complex engineering problems, or computing the money needed for our children’s college education, a vacation here and there, and our retirement years. But what preparations have we made for when we’re no longer working fulltime as engineers? Many can hardly wait for the day they can play golf or tennis or go fishing as often as they want. Others look forward to traveling the globe. However, if you’re not in those groups, what plans have you made to ensure your golden years are meaningful and productive? If you haven’t thought about your future, today might be a good time to start.

With Americans living longer and staying healthier, many of us will have more than one significant career in our lives. It doesn’t matter which endeavor we choose for our second — or third — careers, only that we act on our dreams before we’re too old to pursue them. We’ll have more lucrative choices that way. We mustn’t fall into the trap of “all we know is engineering.”

A review of later-in-life careers that some of our fellow structural engineers have adopted shows intriguing variety. A number have taken up teaching math and science at local schools. Others, if not consultants in their first careers, have become consulting engineers, while those who have had a consulting business all their lives now keep a few clients, operating a small business out of their homes. Many have gone into forensic engineering or become expert witnesses fulltime for law firms or insurance companies. Still others have become developers, construction managers, general contractors, or manufacturers of construction materials, products, or systems.

As an example, Charles Thornton, co-founder of Thornton Tomasetti (New York), now retired, runs a management, marketing, engineering consulting firm in Easton, Md. Additionally, he is involved with TTG Systems, a revolutionary method of constructing high-rises, each floor built at ground level then raised into position.

While these types of after-retirement pursuits are closely related to engineering, many structural engineers have expanded their horizons. They have gone into such activities as mountain climbing (guiding and outfitting), whitewater rafting, experimental aircraft building, even photography and the fine arts.

Thomas Ryan, a founder of Ryan Briggs (New York), oil-painted part-time for years, and then, a dozen years before he retired, his wife gave him a watercolor set for his birthday. He said, “I was instantly hooked [on watercolors]. I won’t say I’ve given up oils, but I haven’t been back to them since.” Today, not only is Ryan a prolific watercolorist, he teaches watercolor painting, leads numerous art groups, and works as a preservationist saving some of the historic bridges he puts to canvas.

Roy Peratrovich, co-founder of Peratrovich Nottingham and Drage (Alaska), established Ravenworks Art Studio in Seattle to create and produce bronze statues after he retired. Years before his retirement, Peratrovich’s wife asked him, “What are you going to do after engineering?” His reply: “I don’t know; something to keep my brain active. I don’t like golf; was never any good at it. But I always liked art and what artists generate with their hands, especially sculptures.”

Having no training in the field, Peratrovich enrolled in an adult sculpture class, found he liked it immensely and that he had talent. So he took more classes and mingled with other gifted artists, learning every step of the way. Said Peratrovich, “At art shows you meet a lot of good artists who love to share their information and techniques. Before long you’re one of them, sharing your expertise as well. Structural engineering principles come into play a lot in sculpting.” His “Flight of the Raven” sculpture (a futuristic totem pole), which is the centerpiece of Peratrovich Park in Anchorage, confirms this statement. In addition to resisting Alaska’s severe snow, ice, and wind forces, innovative engineering solutions were required in meshing the tall stainless steel, bronze, and granite monument together into a single piece.

The types of second careers structural engineers have embraced are extremely varied and awesome. But it really doesn’t matter what you get into after your first career is over. What matters most is planning for it while you’re still active at a “regular” job.

“Flight of the Raven” sculpture image courtsey of the Anchorage Park Foundation.

Richard G. Weingardt, P.E., is CEO and chairman of Richard Weingardt Consultants, Inc., a Denver-based structural engineering firm. He can be reached via e-mail at rweingardt@gostructural.com.