Thoughts on Work

When Paul and I decided to move from Seattle to our 10 acres in the country, it was a deliberate choice to make our lives more centered around the things we really value. Our lives in Seattle had become dominated by work, leaving us little time or energy for cooking, enjoying the outdoors, reading, and other interests. Our conversations were dominated by challenges we faced at work. When we came home at night our energy would be sapped and more often than not we would find ourselves eating out, and then mad at ourselves for allowing yet another refrigerator full of food to spoil. We felt controlled by the environment we had built for ourselves.

Our first six months down here I didn't work outside the home. Paul worked at home a couple of days and had a long commute when he did go in. But the large garden and excitement of our new venture was a huge change for us. We dried fruits and vegies, made jam and jelly, ate a ton of fresh, organic produce, and had plenty of activities around the place that gave us the rewards we were looking for. Two dogs, a donkey, some goats, chickens and rabbits soon added to the farm-y atmosphere.

After about six months I realized that paid work was something I needed - that the rewards of our place weren't quite enough. I found a job as a real estate assistant to a really nice guy in a one-man office - and though I had mostly been in positions of authority throughout my career I relished the idea of a small part time job that wouldn't have the stress of my previous ones. I told him I would make him more productive and to prove it would make my compensation mostly commission based.

Since then our little offfice has grown to four people, and we are now in the process of acquiring a fifth. I am now faced with my hours changing to six or more per day, and it is one that has me reviewing and revising my choices. The angst I feel when I leave home in the morning is tempered by the enjoyment I get from my work, and that has surprised me.

I am in the process of working out what my new hours will be and I hope to be able to balance the things I love here, too. I just love to do too many things! I love the vegetable garden, and canning, drying, and freezing the produce. I love cooking and baking. I love being really aware of the wildlife here. I love knitting, and reading, and my Honda weed whacker. How can I do it all?

The thing I have realized is that things do change, and you have to adjust with the change, as well as be clear about what change will mean to you and your life. And only to allow change if it goes along with the non-negotiable requirements for your happiness.

Now I see that I can compromise a bit in the garden to get the rewards I enjoy from the workplace. Jobs are so much more than just a way to make money - they give us feedback on our value and ability in a way that just isn't possible in the garden and the kitchen. Although when I look out at the fabulous garden in August or see bag after bag of sun-dried tomatoes, I do feel a jolt of pride in myself that is so much more direct and visible than a paycheck.