My summer vacation comes to an abrupt end tomorrow. I meant to sit down and write something meaningful about this before now. But like so many other things I think about writing about, I never got around to it.
This summer was busy, and yet, I'm sort of kicking myself for all the missed opportunities I can't get back. I should have gotten together with my friends more. I should have completed more projects. I should have traveled more. I should have gone to Crater Lake while I had the chance! After all, it's not like I had a job keeping me busy.
Then again, I was looking for a job almost full time. You know, when I wasn't watching Hulu, posting pictures on Flickr, updating Twitter, podcasting TBTL, doing a photoshoot with the Seattle PI, traveling to Chicago, roadtripping it to Portland and catching up on Mad Men or The Wire. Oh Chicago, how I adore you!
Anyways, tomorrow totally feels like the first day of school. Slightly terrifying but mostly exciting! I keep having these dreams about missing the appointment for my last interview (even though I already got the job!) or being asked to do something I have no idea how to do (last night it was fill in for my mom's elementary class, yikes).
I wish I had been better at stressing less about not having a job, and simply savoring it more. I remember a couple friends telling me to take my time and enjoy it while it lasted. At the time I thought they were sort of crazy, thinking I'll enjoy it when I have another job lined up! But now I totally get their point. I mean how often as an adult do you get weeks off at a time to do basically whatever you want. Being laid off, pushed out of a company I was really ready to leave, looking back was one of the best things to happen to me this year. Maybe the best.
My new company is a 5 minute drive from my house, door to door. This, after commuting across town for the last 6 years, still blows my mind. And the folks I'll be working with? They're a bunch of smart cookies and they've done nothing but made me feel welcome and wanted since day 1. So, yeah. I'm excited. Let's do this thing.