The view from my desk.
So, I received a job. Shock!!! I began earlier this month, virtually one 12 months to the day since my earlier seven-year gig ended– they had been downsizing, I used to be let go together with a pleasant severance package deal, and I figured I’d benefit from the money-cushion. I actually leaned into the liberty I’ve been lacking for the previous decade, what with that entire divorce / single mother / full time job / prolonged pre-pandemic commute scenario. And 2021 was a very worrying 12 months, each workwise and all of the planning and execution concerned in getting the children arrange in Maine and myself out right here, to not point out all the pieces taking place on the earth.
I discovered some issues about myself this 12 months. One of many issues I discovered is that, because it seems, I’m horrible at not working. I want a undertaking, objectives, construction, a mission, one thing that requires my focus and a focus for a major share of my waking hours every week.
The primary six months post-job had been good — museums, hanging out with pals, exploring the environs, going to Eire, not having to be at work (or a lot of wherever else) on a schedule. Then I began to get antsy. I kicked round numerous concepts, did some volunteer work, thought-about a part-time job which wasn’t possible for numerous causes, and determined to search for full-time employment once more, based in an workplace with different people. Two years of full-time pandemic distant work was sufficient for me to know I detest it. Yeah, the pliability is nice – do the laundry, stroll the canine, go to the gymnasium or medical appointments, meet the plumber, and so forth. However I reside alone now and I’m sufficient of a people-loving introvert (is {that a} factor?) to wish common in-person interactions with others. Certainly one of my favourite elements of my final gig was the collegial workplace ambiance, and a good variety of my pals are individuals I met at work over the many years.
I’ll be trustworthy – I’m not remotely career-oriented. My total “profession” has been a sequence of respectable jobs I labored exhausting at solely when vital, so I might pay the payments, take holidays, and purchase issues like good garments and area of interest perfumes. I believe I’ve had so many balls within the air for therefore lengthy that I failed to understand what would occur if I gained a ton of leisure time and an empty nest virtually concurrently. It doesn’t bode properly for retirement however I’m not going to fret about that now. Possibly I’ll ease myself into it; who is aware of, possibly in one other 5 years (which had all the time been my obscure quit-full-time-work aim) I’ll be prepared.
Within the meantime? The place I’m working ticks all of the bins I laid out for myself earlier than I began looking out. I wished: a office with a mission I discover attention-grabbing, co-workers who appear nice and fairly sane, good advantages together with beneficiant PTO, and a few flexibility/no one’s watching us clock out and in. I believe I’ve achieved all of that with the bonus of a completely attractive workspace; it’s an historic property, with all of the funky outdated Santa Fe particulars. Significantly, once I went to interview and we did a tour, I needed to cease myself from squealing and clapping my arms collectively like an amped-up toddler. We’re within the steep-learning-curve portion of the festivities however I believe it’ll be okay. Additionally I’ve worn a few of my odder Edwardian-punk garments (paired with extra regular items) and no one batted a watch, so. It’s most likely effective.
Why am I telling you all this? As a result of I’m shocked, greater than something. On the size between pushed and lazy, I’m extra the latter. I assumed I’d take to a 12 months of leisure like a duck to water. However possibly it’s much less about drive per se and extra about routine and construction, I dunno. Do it’s good to have lots of issues happening in your life? Or possibly not lots of issues, however extra of an everyday routine?
Additionally PS I’d love to write down about perfume on this perfume weblog. Actually, nothing would make me happier. However I dig bottles out and sniff them (or sniff new frags whereas out on the prowl) and my nostril simply ain’t proper. I can sit down and cry about it, or … I can write about one thing else, so right here we’re.
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