Well I’m on a total countdown right now until the end of the week.
My retrenchment has been fully confirmed and the farewell party is booked and I have been running around like a mad cow trying to finish this one report that I’ve been working on for literally months and think it would be harder to hand over for someone else to complete than to actually finish myself. along with that there is this outplacement counselling that I get as part of the package, and it’s been (time consuming, but) fabulous in whipping my resume into shape, honing my interview skills, and helping with all sorts of advice for picking up jobs…right down to wardrobe suggestions (my work is generally non-customer-facing, so I have gotten away with pretty casual dress for the last couple of years, OK?).
I’ve been so busy that I haven’t really had time to process everything that’s ahead, and I think I’m probably still in denial about the fact that I’ll be unemployed in a couple of days.
What I’m finding the strangest is the thought of just not coming to work every day and having that real routine that I have to stick to, and the interaction that I have around the office with a couple of dozen people every day to some extent or another.
I’ve been working in this company for just shy of 10 years, and doing this type of work for about 6 and a half. Whilst I think I have developed a pretty good work-life balance, I’m a fairly ambitious and driven person. Plus I have met quite a few of my close friends through work (tends to happen when you move interstate for work) and therefore a lot of my social network is related to work. I wouldn’t say I exactly definemyself by my work, but it is certainly a very big part of my life, and it’s a little scary to contemplate life without it (how do you have after-work drinks if you aren’t working?).
So the obvious question, and one I’ve heard countless times over the past couple of weeks, is “What next?”
Well, to start with I have a very long list of stuff to do. It includes a few small jobs I’ve been meaning to do, but have added to the list and put off until I’m lookingfor things to do. Things like clearing out my sock drawer and getting rid of all the orphans (it’s a Virgo thing, OK?), repotting a couple of plants on the balcony, and getting my tax done.
I’m planning on keeping a bit of discipline in my life with a daily trip to the gym and / or a run. this will be especially important during the first 10 days as they will be the lead up to the City 2 Surf that’s looming.
After that, I’m heading down to Tassie for a few days on my annual girl’s weekend – something I’m very much looking forward to, as it’s always a fabulous time.
A couple of days after getting back, I’m heading into hospital overnight for that little operation that I mentioned earlier. As there was only one vote (thanks Reed!) and it was affirmative, it looks like all the gory details of me getting a varicose vein in my leg fixed are going up here…support stockings and all!
The recovery time for that can vary, but I’ve given myself a couple of weeks, and then I’m off to Adelaide with NTB. Sister Mel and her hubby and my nephew JD will be there for part of that time, other sister Petrina is popping in too, I’m going to spend some time with my remaining grandparents, I’m catching up with Sandy and Aunty Sandy, and going to spend some time at my aunt and uncle’s shack which is conveniently located nice and handy to McLaren Vale wineries. so it should be an action-packed but seriously fun trip.
Once we get back from there, I’ll be back on the job market. The plan is to try to pick up contracting work (any leads happily accepted in this direction!) for about 18 months (give or take) until NTB finishes his current study.
At that point, we’re hoping to head off overseas for an extended bout of travel. No details have been set as yet, but I have a pretty firm idea (for now) that the plans will involve South-East Asia (hopefully Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, for a start) and will definitely include a period of volunteer work. If anyone has suggestions based on personal experience or hearsay of what, specifically, we might do here, I’m open to suggestions.
After that, I suppose a return to a regular career is the logical choice, but by then anything could have changed!
So basically, I’ll be unemployed for at least the next 6 weeks. After that it’s all a little less firm.
No doubt, however, you’ll be along for the ride. As a naturally busy person without much to ostensibly do, I’m sure this blog will be getting some much-needed extra attention. I’m very much looking forward to what I learn about myself through this change, and seeing what I can do under my own steam, without the confines of a job and a regular paycheck to worry about for a little while.
I’ll be honest, I think the next couple of days are going to be a bit of a write-off in terms of my chances of getting back on here, but tune in next week for the next exciting installment!
J.
