"Real Life" Begins

The old blog took exactly one year to become obsolete. After a little more than one year I was officially hired somewhere and now have a job, benefits, and an excuse to buy lots of cute dresses and shoes. The job is fantastic, great pay, amazing people and is something I really enjoy doing. One might even say that after one week I feel like I've already been there for years.

That's probably because it's in the same office I've worked at since I was 19.

The fact that I'm working at the place I've called "the office" (and sometimes home) for years is fantastic, but it does have it's drawbacks. First, that "Welcome to Adulthood" moment hasn't exactly come. I'm sure it will come the first time one of our projects goes to hell in a handbasket and I have no one to blame other than myself. I'm sure that will feel great. Second, my dreams of moving to the city, getting my own place and becoming a chic city girl have been put on hold for the next 2-25 years (the estimated time of my stint in the office). My house is eight miles from work. I do not have to pay rent. I do not have to buy food. I get to bank every dollar I make. I have two hilarious housemates in my parents. I'm not moving out anytime soon.

Even if I do move out, I'll still be in the suburbs. This definitely played a role in almost keeping me from applying for the job. I majored in freaking cities. My major is literally called "cities" (fine, it's literally called Growth and Structure of Cities, but you get the idea). Who the hell gets a degree that random then immediately moves home to suburbia?

I do. And I'm ok with that.

Two months ago I was lying in my hammock on the first warm day of the year. The trees were in full bloom, the neighbor had his fantastic playlist blasting and I lay there, smiling. I knew that in that moment I had everything I needed and I was truly happy. The only thing bringing me down was a nagging thought in the back of my head that all of this was going to change fairly soon. I knew that I could only be unemployed for so long and eventually I was going to have to move on, try something new, someplace new. I knew that i would probably be happy doing whatever that was....but I was bummed realizing that I had something great going and it was going to have to change.

Nothing has to change. I think I'm the first person to be excited that they don't get to start a new life with their first job. This blog will chronicle my new-old life. Despite the title the parents appearance in the blog will be minimal. Remember, they are like roommates. Anything I say about them will eventually lead to an awkward passive aggressive confrontation. Instead it will focus on my journey of trying to enjoy the waning years of youth in a land built for families and responsible people. It will focus on my forays to dog parks, shopping centers, root beer stands and libraries. There will be some work references although I like to keep those to a minimum. Now that I have a job I need to work super hard to keep it.

My biggest fear in taking my new job was that I would get stuck. I would get comfortable. This blog will hopefully keep me on my toes. My favorite thing about blogging is that I'm always looking for new things to blog about. By keeping this record I'll be on the look out for ridiculous things to write about, which I hope will keep me out of the monotonous pace of suburban life.

Today is literally the first day of the rest of my life. Ok fine, last Monday was my first day and literally the first day of the rest of my life. Rest of Life Goal Number 1: Stop using the word literal so much.