Why did I become a dendrochronologist?

I can't answer for Jonathan, but for me it was a combination of two fascinations, one with history and one with how things tick. I guess my first interest in science started very young, probably spurred on by an [un?]healthy obsession with Dr Who and discussions my old man (in Ozlingo, old man = father) would have with some of the visitors to our house. I also used to join the dots on his printouts of ring widths in the days when printers couldn't print sloping lines. As for history, that probably began with what I thought was the 'ancient' history of WWII during which my parents were born. 

It was for me actually a quite circuitous route to the corer and microscope.  After leaving high school, I studied Economics at the University of Tasmania, with a smudge of Arts and tint of science via Geography.  After deciding I quite enjoyed Geography (subject and the people) and was really really interested in Climate Science, I did an Honours degree in Geography - on Tasmanian rainfall.  As with many young Australians, there was then the rite of passage period during which I worked to travel overseas so I could pour beers like all Australian who go to London. After this one year white fella walkabout in Europe I came back home.  To unemployment.  But not for long. I soon met Dr Ed Cook and the likes of Brendan Buckley and spent a couple of very enjoyable weeks in the field with them.  Before I knew what was happening I was signed up for a PhD in dendrochronology. While I have worked in a variety of completely different roles since finishing my PhD for a variety of organisations, it is research that gives me greatest job satisfaction, and why wouldn't it? I get to go to fantastic places where most people will never get to, I spend time with great people and when talking shop we don't even realise we're talking shop because what we do is so fascinating.