I haven't worked the tools, as a job, due to my disability status, which was about 1990. As I was working on power generation plants, I dealt with cylinder heads the size of a small car! When I trashed my knee, it made it that much harder to scramble over the engines looking for air/water leaks and manually taking exhaust temps.
It was after I left the trade that I 'dabbled' in other employment, but once my back got to a stage where I couldn't even stand for any period of time, it was decided that it was best I go on disability, which also included my knee, hip and shoulder (which is another story!).
I got in to the computer side of things when I realised that seeing as though I spend so much time on one, I may as well find out what makes them work, what makes them break, and how to fix them. All self taught.
However, I do have a diploma in Freelance Journalism / Photography, and I still dabble with that on occasion.