Writer, Speaker, Teacher, Photographer, Engineer, Entrepreneur, etc.
I have many ways to introduce myself. Each is true and each has its own history. I am more than these bits, so if you want to hear more, send me a note.
Writer
I fell into writing by trying to lose weight. That's not an obvious career path. I decided to lose weight by bicycling, and figured it would take so much bicycling that I'd be able to cross the continent. So I did. By the time I was done, I'd sent out 15,000 words of emails, which a friend pointed out was more notes than most writers have when they start a book. So I wrote Just Keep Pedaling. The emails tell one story. The rest of the book gets into what really happened each day.
After the first book I realized that I could do a better job and decided to chronicle the life of the natural world in Washington's Cascade mountains. I'd hiked there for a couple of decades and was surprised to find that, despite the excellent writer and adventurers in the area, no one had taken on the simple task of describing a year's worth of visits to the mountains. And so the Twelve Month series swept into my life.
But people asked where I found the time to delve into these adventures. When they find out that I retired at 38 they want to know about how I did that. So I wrote one book on personal finance (Dream. Invest. Live.) and helped on another (Your Money or Your Life - revised and updated edition).
That's what happens when I relax and follow the path the universe lays out for me.
Speaker
Like I say over on the speaking page, "One of the greatest fears in life is public speaking, but not for me. I get butterflies, but after teaching kid's class in karate, no audience is intimidating."
Book readings reinforced the joy that I get from connecting with a group of people. My talks are casual and entertaining enough that I'm usually asked to come back.
How did this happen? I don't know, but it is a part of me. I am willing to do a talk at a moment's notice. I've had to give a 45 minute presentation on five minutes warning. After that, anything is possible.
Teacher
The primary subject that I've formally taught has been karate, which has definitely influenced my comfort in front of people. I don’t have a storefront because I’m happier teaching people one-on-one as a personal trainer. I thank my sensei, Jerry Gould (Shobayashi Shorinryu Karatedo), for teaching me since 1984.
I've also taught other subjects more informally (self-publishing, photography, etc.) and enjoy it when I see information sink in. It is a wonderful sight.
Photographer
I've been taking photos since the mid-seventies when I was mimicking my older brother. For a while I took photos for the school newspaper and for the prom, but for the most part I've taken photos for myself. I've always been encouraged to sell them, but I took the compliments for politeness rather than a critique. The response to the photos in the Twelve Month series of books finally convinced me to make the photos public and available for sale. In 2007/2008 I branched out and took photos in a more conscious way by chronicling the local bay where I live: Cultus Bay on the southern tip of Whidbey Island. In 2008/2009 I extended the series to the northern end of the island: Deception Pass. In 2009/2010 I finished Admiralty Head. There will be more. Stay tuned.
Engineer
Once upon a time I had a normal career. I was an engineer at Boeing for 18 years. Frivolously, I'll call myself a rocket scientist, or an aerodynamicist, but those titles are more properly worn by people who do those tasks for decades. The world of aerospace is such that it is possible to be a generalist within a very narrow range. For those outside that world, I helped make sure airplanes, rockets and satellites could fly safely and well even when things broke. For those inside that world, I spanned the range from research through development and all the way to product support and accident investigation within the discipline of Stabiliaty & Control. You can probably tell that I was almost always moving. For the real story, see my resumes (skills Thomas Trimbath resume Nov08.doc & chronological Tom Trimbath resume Nov08.doc).
The work was fun and I miss it, but for reasons more personal than I want to reveal here, lets just say that I was glad that I was able to retire at 38.
Entrepreneur
I am an investor and a fan of entrepreneurs, so I am inspired to come up with my own ideas and enjoy encouraging and helping others.
While an engineer I developed a number of "invention disclosures", which are really unfiled patents. One made it through though. If there isn't a link for it here, do a search on the US Patent Office's web site. I'm told it still shows up.
During a visit to Hollyhock, up on Cortes Island in Canada, I came up with an idea for a new type of social entrepreneurial business development venture. I’ve got to find a shorter name for it. In the meantime, I continue to work on it. The best place to describe it is over on its own web site. It is a fine example of how I like to express two of my main passions: people and ideas. A couple years later at Hollyhock I also sketched a ship that might help clean the plastics from the ocean gyres. (Sea Stack Plastic Harvestor)
In the meantime, I am inventing (but not patenting until I need to), investing in small companies (all public), and kicking around ideas with friends. Dreaming is a joy.
Etc.
I am single, a dancer, a bit over six foot tall, a bit heavier than I want but know that it is an issue of vanity not health, have a beard, wear shorts as much as possible, love to cook, sit on the porch, and talk with my friends.
I am from Pittsburgh, over by Kennywood Park and worked in a steel mill to get through college. I went to Virginia Tech twice: once to get my bachelors in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, and again to get my Masters after I'd worked at Boeing for three years. Since 1980 I've lived in various places around Puget Sound and find it entertaining how they are similar yet how each thinks it is best. Go figure. It is all good. Of course, where I am now is the best, but hey that is island life for you.
Tom Trimbath