Nose To The Grindstone (Or, Thoughts While Drinking A Beer)

I am working so much right now. Pretty much every day. My one day I have guaranteed off is spent catching up on errands and cleaning house. I see my friends off doing adventures and exploring and I feel jealous. 

But then I think of how guilty I often feel when I do those adventures, knowing that it’s not my own money I’m spending. 

Example - I need new summer clothes. Not only do I not have time and energy to go clothes shopping right now, but I feel bad spending our main income on clothes. But my money from my job is easier to spend on that stuff. So I ordered myself a Stitch Fix, and if I like the whole box, and it all fits, I can keep the whole box. No worries. 

I also need some new workout shoes. Although that does require time and energy to go find some shoes, or at least find shoes online that I know will fit, I feel better getting them when I know it’s my own money, from my job, that I’m spending on them. 

Am I a penny pincher? Yeah, probably. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I grew up with two working parents. I remember a time when the Union went on strike, so dad wasn’t working. He took some part time work to keep some money coming in, and things were tight for a while.  We all did without frivolous things. Eventually the strike ended and he went back to work. It wasn’t super long and drawn out or anything.

And I like my job. Which is interesting. It’s a very extroverted job for such an introverted person. But the people I work with are fun, and it involves outdoor sports and activities, which I love. It’s all about getting people to get out and learn about the area around them. I think that’s why I like it. It’s all about doing something I love to do – Explore.

The main part of my job is pretty customer service basic. I sign people up for trips and rent out equipment. I answer what questions I can about the area. But I also get to work in the background with building our catalog, organization, and some planning and ideas. Our Director values our input, and if he didn’t, I don’t think I would have taken the job. Or at least, I wouldn’t have lasted long at it.  Sure, there are some processes and areas that need work, but that goes for any job I’ve ever seen. I’ll do what I can to help improve those areas.

And in doing so, I’ll earn a paycheck. Maybe even go back to get a Master’s degree. Library Science? I’m thinking about it.