January Adjustments

"I was looking for a job and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now"
~ The Smiths "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"

On the Sunday afternoon after my first full week back at work, what do I have to say for myself? First of all, that I'm extremely grateful I got a job, despite the lyrics I sort of tongue-in-cheek quoted above. Not just any job but a REAL job as a BA (Business Analyst) in the IT department of a mid-size company in Sarasota. It's what I did for most of the time at my old job and it pays less than what I was making "up north" but hey, at least it comes with benefits that will kick in just when we need them.

And with all the people currently out of work (one of them a dearly beloved family member), I'm well aware of how lucky I am. Not that I can't take some credit for the hard work that led to the resume which helped me land the job. (In fact, my new manager made a comment about how it was my years of experience as a BA that most impressed him and I immediately felt a ton of pressure, like I had to be a superstar right away - but that's just how my f-ed up mind works sometimes, unfortunately.)

Between that and the fact that I typically interview fairly well, I do feel like I earned this job. But there's a ton of qualified unemployed people out there with the same things, so I know it has at least something to do with being in the right place at the right time for the opportunity.

Actually, funny thing about getting this job: it was David who found it for me, on a techy job board called 37signals (ever heard of it? I hadn't either). And I was the one who found David his gig on Craig's List back in October. I love the strange symmetry of this part of our experience down here in Florida.

Secondly, all I can say is wow, what an adjustment. I went from feeling like I almost had too much time on my hands to feeling like I have no time at all. But what I do have now is a semi-monthly paycheck. What a relief! I'm just hoping it will be worth it. Only time will tell. Now I have to stop blogging and go do laundry since I can no longer do it at any old time like, say, 1pm on a Tuesday. :)