I'm lost and need some direction forward

[mimitabby]

When I stopped caring about the work I was doing, I knew it was time to move on. I admire those people like Mimi who can just do their job and not worry about it. I can't. It's what I do for most of my waking hours. It has to have meaning for me; otherwise, it feels like a waste (to me).

It's been 10 months since I left DC and started working from home as a consultant to non-profits developing affordable housing for people with special needs. I'm enjoying my work and my balanced life. Of course there are other options; there is not just one right answer. I want to do more garden design (paid) and get involved (preferably paid) in bicycle planning with the city (when they get their act together, that is), and maybe teach teach city planning or landscape design at a local college as adjunct faculty. I also want to teach pilates and kayaking, but I need some credentials for those two.

I took a paycut, but I also moved to a more reasonable city.

It took me a long time to make the move, but I'm glad I did. I can always go back and get a corporate or public-sector job in my field if consulting doesn't work out. But I have lots of projects currently to keep me busy (and interested) for the foreseeable future.

That's just my story. Everyone is different. I think that we know when it's time to change. It's just a matter of listening.

Tulip, i think what you are doing is awesome. I've just seen too many people with such expectations; expectations that no job could fulfill.
I'm glad everyone isn't like me!

[tulip]

Tulip, i think what you are doing is awesome. I've just seen too many people with such expectations; expectations that no job could fulfill.
I'm glad everyone isn't like me!

Thanks, Mimi. I like my job, but it isn't perfect. The thing I like most about it is that it's flexible. I can work from just about anywhere. No cubicles! I work in cafes, in my apartment, at my friends house on the Chesapeake Bay...even on the train. My time is mine to determine how I'll use it. I have to be vigilant, though, about not working too much and not slacking off too much.

I would like to do work in Europe (I tried to live and work there, but just could not get a job with my US education). So I've come to terms that I will visit. Perhaps someday I will be able to live there, but for now, visiting will have to do. Theoretically, I can do my current job from Europe, aside from the occasional meetings and site visits. So perhaps next year I'll do that for a few months.

I sometimes toy with doing bicycle planning. I interviewed for such a job last year, but it was in DC and for all sorts of reasons I was ready to leave there. As a bit of compensation, I always add a bike rack to our apartment projects, and one of these days I'm going to get it together to donate some bikes to the residents. Most don't have cars and biking is a good option for getting around. I also indicate bike paths on the transit maps that I create (for funding grant applications)

I'd also like to do more design work, but I do get to work with architects. I did a landscape plan for one of my projects that is now under construction. Hopefully there won't be any surprises during construction that will mess with the budget, as landscaping is the first to get cut. If that one turns out well, then I will use it to market those skills. It's all drought-tolerant and non-invasive plants; not just lawn and shrubs like most senior housing projects.

I'm the defacto tech support for our tiny company of three people in two states. Me as tech support is kinda funny. Learn as you go! I figured out how to set up a remote server, whoo-hoo! In my budding tech role, I want to start a blog and make my website more active and interesting. Right now it's pretty static.

All that with 25 projects in the pipeline, I'm busy...but I'm having a great time. I'm able to incorporate my interests into alot of the work that I do. Plus, helping people, albeit indirectly, is important to me.

The lessons that I have learned are that can incorporate my interests and talents into my work now because I'm in charge of my time and projects; whereas I had a harder time doing interesting things when I worked for a big firm (even though it was a prestigious design and planning firm--I had gotten pigeon-holed into one small segment of the market and I couldn't get out and remain with the firm).

Anyhoo, I hope CC figures things out for her situation. Don't expect perfection, but improvements are possible.

[tulip]

The thing I miss most of all is my bike commute! It's harder than I thought to just go out for a bike ride. I need a destination and a purpose for my bike rides!