I've been working. New job, in a new city, at the start of a potential career. Yeay.
So, why after all this time, after finally making it to that point we were all told to strive for, where our parents cheer us on and where I can finally consider myself an adult do I still reserve some apathy? Shouldn't I be ecstatic?! I have a job!
Well, no disrespect to my employer - a very good employer in fact, providing me with a very good opportunity - but I've reached a point where I realize there's more to happiness than a job that "pays the bills".
Truth # 1 The long and short of it is, work is something you will not always love to do. It is not a reward after toiling in school for 16 years, and it's not some missing jigsaw piece that will complete your life. It is a duty you serve for compensation, a set of responsibilities you honor for a steady paycheck. I realize this now after watching my father drag himself into work at the Transit Authority every morning for over 40 years, through hangover and illness. That's what work is.
It sounds grim how I deliver it, but another truth is...
Truth # 2 ...it's what you make of it. You get what you put into it, like any other relationship in life. Some people finess the system a little, and others find shortcuts. But, for the most part, while you can't feign excitement in your work, you can adjust your attitude and routine to make the most of what you do.
At least that's my plan. Mr. Idealistic... that's me.
ATL Apartment Hunt
Searching for an apartment in Atlanta was a lot like finding sand at a beach; apartment communities are everywhere. I started off with an apartment guide the size of the New Testament, and flipped through everything in my price-range. The names of the communities are amusing to me, because they all start to sound the same: you take two or three words that remind you of serenity or luxury and jumble them (Brookshire Woods, Ahley Hill Acres, Red-vine Pines, Stonewood Laurels, Hillcrest Place,... I could go on forever).
So after driving past 80 different communities along the way, we found a similarly named community with a lease deal. You could tell they make an effort to chase the ghetto vibe away with big trees and greenery. Fortunately the people are generally friendly, and life is relatively good for the moment.
A few nights ago I heard gunshots. At first, I shrugged it off, thinking "someone was holding to a few last firecrackers from the 4th of July." Then the red and blue lights flickered on my blinds, and I knew it was more than a few M-80's.
I promptly called my girlfriend to tell her we should start looking to buy a home.
Honestly, you can't get total satisfaction from an apartment. You'll either have Miss "I don't beleive in disciplining my children" upstairs with toddlers marching all over the floor and keeping you up at night, or crappy heating, or noisy neighbors, or just a downtrodden neighborhood, or whatever.
Cubicle Culture II