My 4 months of funemployment in 2016 was the longest I have been funemployed in my career. In previous years I had only been without a job for about a month at a time, which was exactly enough time to network, find another job and do little else. This longer stint originally frustrated me. One company claimed to want to hire me before I even left my previous job, but was then put on hold. Then I went traveling. Despite my schedule rarely having me in Seattle for more than 24 hours another company a few weeks later said they wanted to hire me, but it fell through. I kept traveling. Another company inexplicably worked around my busy travel schedule and let me do several interviews over the phone claimed they wanted to hire me. And this too fell through in the end. There were several less serious disappointments along the way. Continue reading “Funemployment Helped Me Find What’s Important”
Category: Musings
Day In The Life Of A Worker Bee
As a reminder to my future-retired-in-her-30s-self, I wanted to catalog a typical day in my life while working. This is an example of a not stressful day where I didn’t work late. And you still don’t want to do it do you 🙂 Continue reading “Day In The Life Of A Worker Bee”
I’m Lucky: I’ve Always Been This Way
When I read about the paths of other financial independence seekers I’ve noticed something about myself. I’ve always been this way. When others were looking to fill their lives with things I’ve mostly always loved hoarding my money. When I was young – maybe 7 – I was even a bank to my step-siblings. I’d lend them money and collect repayments. One of them still owes me $50. With interest :). I doubt I’ll ever see it though. Such is the life of a bank of a 7 year old. Continue reading “I’m Lucky: I’ve Always Been This Way”
I Love My New Job
It’s that simple. I love my new job. Each job I have seems to get better and better. Thank you universe. I’ve been trying to put my finger on why it’s so amazing.
Is it because of my client? Not really – she’s nice, but demands a lot and is difficult to read.
Is it because of the work I’m doing? Kind of – it’s not creating ads or adding to the gross manipulation of the marketing industry. Instead I’m thinking of ways to get people to work better together and helping advance my client’s career. I’m basically a ghost employee for a tech giant.
So what is it about? Continue reading “I Love My New Job”
Integrity > Money
I was laid off from my job after a little less than a year. I was strangely ecstatic about this fact. I literally called that it was going to happen and was looking for another job so I could comfortably quit when it happened. I was surprised to learn that I would also receive 1 week of severance pay…with a catch. I would have to sign a gag order and never say anything negative about Company 5, their holding company or anyone that has ever worked there or Company 5 could sue me. I asked if the agreement could be edited and the head of HR ignored me until I was able to confront her in person. I was told she could not edit the agreement. So I told her I would not be signing anything. She looked surprised. Continue reading “Integrity > Money”
I Refuse
I look around and see no one with the life I want. I refuse to live 45 years of my life like this. Following the instructions of a faceless company and an alarm clock. Having my company tell me when and how often I can see my family. Having a certain number of days when I do not have to be in a cubicle. Feeling stress over creating ads no one wants to see. Attending award shows created by the people who want to win the awards – a circlejerk. Pretending I care if a spam email deployed a day later than we said it would. Feeling stress that this ‘mistake’ will reflect poorly on me – even for a second. Pretending any of this matters: title, social status, perceived wealth.
I refuse for this to be my life. So I’m changing it.
The Real Reason I Want to Retire
The real reason I want to retire: Because death is coming.
I know I think about death more than I should. It’s almost a daily occurrence – if not multiple times a day. This is my only life. My conscious time in this universe is constantly counting down. My time in this body and with the people I love is continually diminishing. And I refuse to awaken one day – like many of my relatives have – and realize my best days are behind me. I don’t want to be filled with regret over what I should have done in my life, unable to move on and constantly fixated on the past because I’ll never have that again. That is my greatest fear. Continue reading “The Real Reason I Want to Retire”
Nothing Better
There’s nothing better than watching sunlight filter through leaves onto a hardwood floor. Sipping your beverage of choice while wind whispers through the windows. Sitting with people you love.
This is what every day is like at my partner’s house.
And it’s what my favorite days at home with my partner consist of.
No rushing to be anywhere, letting the day unfold at your own pace.
Seeing where the world will take you.
This is happiness.