Testing, testing.
Why did I do this, oh why?
Well, because I am struggling to find peace with my choice of leaving my federal job pre-Sequestration 2013. I’ve worked all my adult life and during much of my childhood (started doing chores around the house, then my first ‘real’ job flipping burgers at McDonald’s, student worker in a library during college, retail & waitressing to pay the bills while I finished grad school, to actually getting a career job). The transition of not working for a paycheck (but still working!) is a complete 180 for me.
Why did I leave a supposedly safe federal job? Let’s just say that it was a number of things that broke this camel’s back – too much work for just one museum employee, not enough visitor-ship (and therefore not enough $$ or employees), a truly passionate non-federal funding board that was unfortunately not ready to accept a young/female/non-military backgrounded curator despite my experience, too many military branch-wide museum inspections and/or audits (more than 4 in 3 years, lasting 22 mos!), and having to prove myself -and the military museum I directed- every 2 years when we got a new military commander. All this stress on one set of shoulders led to a deterioration of my health – physically & mentally and the decision to leave my would-have-been-awesome-except-for-the-above-listed job as a curator/director for a federal museum was made.
I am supremely lucky that my wonderful, awesome husband can financially support us while I decide what chapter to pursue next – another/different/better federal museum job, earning my PhD, independent museum consulting, branching out into a different career field, or even [gasp] motherhood??? Who knows? Maybe even all the above!
Side Note: I never thought I would say motherhood before I met my husband – heck, I never thought I would get married until I met him! A string of caring, passionate, handsome lovers/partners, yes, totally in my cards. Luckily, my Eric is a lifetime of caring, passionate, handsome lovers! A true life-partner.
Right now, I am focusing on regaining my health and learning to be OK with staying at home (at least for now!) while I unpack and put our 1965 home to rights. Our main goal is to have a home where all are welcome and feel comfortable. Our motto during this venture is “work smarter, not harder”.
Come join me on my journey…and Welcome to our At-Home!
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