I hope this stuff comes back! I am going to have to review some of it this weekend. I'm starting to feel more confident even not being able to remember it all right away -- these people are SO far behind the curve. I wouldn't say that it is worse than I expected, but I am amazed at the broken systems people put up with when they don't have the time/inclination/anyone managing things.

My boss is not hard to deal with at all so far. He seems like someone who might like the Grateful Dead. I don't think he actually does, but he has that kind of temperament. Extremely relaxed. I can see why he took so long to get back to me.

I am REALLY enjoying adding a line to my invoice each night when I get home. I have been living a very minimalistic lifestyle for so long that it doesn't take a lot to excite me.

I also have trouble with spatial memory! I can parallel park if I have to, but I would rather walk a bit farther than try to squeeze in. I am not sure if it is spatial or not, but my brain can't work out how to drive a manual. I think it's because it takes me so much energy to focus on the driving part that I can't sacrifice that tiny bit more to think about shifting/rpms. I sort of know which room is over which, but I do have to stop and work it out.

When you were looking at job postings, did *any* look interesting, even stuff you aren't qualified for or wouldn't really want to do? I agree that it doesn't make sense to change jobs if you aren't really interested in the new job, but going on interviews is still good. It's practice for when you are suddenly presented with a wonderful opportunity - and you also never know! The new job may give you a lot more money, just because you asked, and have better benefits. Some small companies are *crazy* with their benefits.

But, yeah - day jobs just kind of suck. There is so much neat stuff to do. I was just talking with a neighbor who does welding - he works six weeks straight and then takes 3 months off. We were both talking about how we want to work for as little as possible to make enough money to support our hobbies and pay our bills. Why not? I am not sure exactly what you do, but I can guess that it's the kind of skill that pays well and is in demand. That gives you a huge amount of flexibility.

I found it very hard to step off the path four years ago when I was in an extremely toxic work situation. I can't tell you how *right* that was. It's like I know that I am not the kind of person who can have a day job - and maybe sometimes I have to have one, but long term, that is not my path. I certainly didn't use my time as wisely as I could have and I still haven't really found my path, but breaking myself of the idea that I have to have a dayjob to live has been huge. People look at me like I am crazy when I openly admit that I have no intention of doing a day job long term ever again, but I really mean it.

It took me a long time to get to the point where I was okay with that much risk.