I actively pursued many hobbies when I was young : hiking in the Santa Cruz mountains; kayaking on Montterey Bay; mountain biking to Mission Peak; or just reading a book while listening to my favorite jazz music.
Somehow , those hobbies became less important as I began to focus my time and effort on the daily grind of putting a roof over my head, food on the table, clothes on my back, and a few dollars in the bank for a rainy day.
The daily grind became a 37-year "career" as a full-time employee and contractor in Silicon Valley: 17 jobs lasting 6 months to 6 years (and 7 layoffs lasting 3 to 11 months).
As a full-time employee, the daily grind consisted of constantly looking over my shoulder after being let go despite working long hours to meet tight deadlines.
As a contractor, the daily grind consisted of leaving without a trace after 6:00 pm since I was no longer obsessed with the golden handcuffs (eg, health insurance, 401(k) plan, or stock options) that shackled full-time employees to the notion of "job security".
The daily grind came to an end when I moved to a more leisurely and affordable lifestyle in the San Joaquin Valley near Sacramento (see Nothing Personal, Just Business).
Friends and family ask me what I’m doing now. I simply reply that I'm on a sabbatical. I don't bring work home with me. I don't unwind from the stress of 60 hour work weeks that made me dread Mondays. I'm not obsessed with layoffs that made me dread Wednesdays.
Today, I focus my time and effort on dealing with diabetic neuropathy and edema.
You see, my life ha a a meaning, purpose, and plan. I just have to remember that it's not up to me to know (or understand) all of the details.
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