Speaking of "transportable skills" - there's a different, less altruistic motivation to my continued role as a volunteer firefighter - and that's the never-ending supply of free training to whatever level I want for medical, hazmat, rescue, firefighting, NIMS & Incident Command - whatever training I can make the time for, I can get, for free.

While I don't necessarily WANT to be a paramedic or registered nurse, I also know that I could - quickly - train up to those levels from where I am now and immediately find gainful employment in those areas. The pay isn't the same as the work I do now, however, it's a skill set that does not really tie to any one geography.