July 26, 2005
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Topic: saving money for…
So…I’ve been working almost a month now. And I’ve been lucky that time really flies at my job. It seems like before I blink, the day is over, the week is over, and suddenly, the month of July is nearly over. For once…I’m glad that life is moving like that, because I remember when my days were dragging forever and I life was operating on school-time w/ the frozen clock.
So…now I get to look forward to these paychecks coming in, and since I’m living at home, that’s all going straight into the piggy bank. And the essential question is, what will that money go towards? The common sense answer seems to be an apartment in NYC, which implies that I will either stick w/ my job for a while, or that I will change to another job in NYC. The problem is…I’m not sure that at this stage of my life, NYC will be very career friendly for me.
So…if I’m not to stay in NYC, there is no reason to invest in an apartment and all the permanance that comes with that. So…that means I’m saving up for some sort of a move, and that kind of excites me. But for what…and to where?
Clearly…I don’t function very highly unless I’m doing something fairly out there. Also, I’ve clearly left behind a love of mine in Africa. So..this leads me to think of two words, “Peace Corps.” Now, all I’m doing is thinking about it, but the leading reason I never considered it in the past, was the two year commitment. Now…2 years seems like such a short time. I want to travel, live somewhere untraditional, and do something memorable. Plus…I need to be doing the type of work that will actually benefit me as a human being so that I can be more than an “office manager.”
Comments (7)
There’s also AmeriCorps. It’s only a 1 year commitment.
Posting is so addicting, isn’t it? I’ll be looking for a job now, too (part-time). Money’s getting a little tight with homeschooling and just one of us working. I’ve had almost two years off, so I’ll work for a year or two, until I get tired of it again, and then I’ll quit to spend more time with the family. I’m looking for a job in a bookstore. The books will be some consolation for having to work again.
Actually, I have about seven years of experience in bookstores, but it’s been about ten years since I worked in one. (Yikes, that shows my age.) I’ve worked in just about every position available, except store manager. I’ll be looking for a job in one of the six chain stores in the area. (There were only two ten years ago!)
Thanks for asking questions and commenting on my story. I’ll have to let it sit for a day or two, when I can read it with objective eyes because, of course, it makes perfect sense to me right now (having just wrote it this morning).
I meant to ask: So where are you working?
See, you’re such a nice guy. Peace corp might be great work. And I love that you’re always out in the world, doing, rather than what I do a lot of, talking. But I said I’d post it in both places, so I’m gonna.
For those of you who read Dan’s site, just ignore this ridiculous rant. : )
Dan I’ve always liked you. And to prove it, I’ll post this in your comment box as well. But, well, here’s the thing.
You are absolutely wrong. Life is meaningless? And that is freeing? What are you, a post-WWII existentialist? A nihilist? Because that’s exactly what I’m talking about. Capitalist consumerist commodified culture is nihilistic, it is serving death. It teaches us that life is meaningless, that nothing matters, so why not have fun and buy that Coach purse while you’re at it? Why not spend $180 a night on bar tabs, it’s not like you’re going to hell or anything! You’ve only got one life to live, and there is no ethical system or purpose that exists, so how about screwing over your neighbors, buying a Porshe, and invading oil-rich countries? Hey, sounds good! Let the good times roll.
And we all die. That’s it. You want my meaning? LIFE. That’s my purpose. Survival. Living.
And, if at all possible, to live forever.
If not me, than my species.
We have to change in order to continue to exist. If you want to succumb to capitalist propoganda (I’m sorry, read: marketing) and believe that life is meaningless, then go ahead. I’m going to go on “calling for… everyone to agree on a single “purpose” for life, so that we would all strive for the same thing, being protecting and extending life, and thinking as a whole instead of as pieces…” If they can’t get behind that, well -
They go down. Is that competitive and Darwinian enough for you?
Whew.
Sorry. I know that was “devils advocate” so I’m not taking it personal, but thanks for the opportunity to go off.
Very refreshing.
mother bitch…i just wrote a nice long response proving that not only am i not wrong, but quite the opposite, i am right. but that post got deleted. it did end w/ the idea of us grabbing a beer, in celebration of this meaningless and yet extremely purposeful life in which we live.
Since when did the purpose of life get whittled down to just life? Surviving? That’s a purpose? And you don’t find that post-WWII nihilistic?