So this is what it is to work!

[bklyndirt]

Nearing the end of week 2 of being a working person and here's what I think so far:

I love Photoshop, I love graphic design; AutoCAD, not so much but at least it's not completely scary to me anymore. I've built enough skills in the last two weeks that when someone hands me a redlined plan, I actually have a clue.

I got a paycheck! This is the first

Comments

[evillinn]

*smooch*
Congratulations, girlie!

I hear you about the scheduling thing. I've gotten so used to working 3 days a week. I *knew* when I took this job that it'd back fire when I had to go back to more typical schedule. Its hard to think that Americans so willingly give up the most precious commodity they have - their time.

But - those of us that have our priorities straight and are good at designing our lives will continue to do so well. Our time is still ours, and as you get more entrenched at the new company you'll develop some leverage to work with. You'll gain back more of the ability to control your schedule.

Happy for you and proud of you!!

xo

[beelzebabe]

I hear ya. If and when I ever go back to a 9-5 40/week job it's going to be a big adjustment. I've gotten used to my 4 day work week and my two overnights, that I can now sleep through. I feel bratty when I complain though because all things considered I know I have a great job.

[nex0s]

Yay for you!

@Cons:

HA HA HA HA!!!! Sorry, not laughing AT you feeling cranky except that...

I have pretty much ALWAYS worked a full workweek, except for when I waitressed and that was like 30 hours anyway. I'm just happy that I tend to average about 45-50 hours here, and not 60 or more like my colleagues from H. do at their jobs.

Someday I'd like to have a shorter work week, but from what I hear from everyone is that you still end up working the same damn amount of time to make a living ANYWAY it just creeps in at night and on the weekends. I don't know if I actually believe them though. If that were true, then how come all my freelance friends seem to always be doing stuff all the time that isn't working? HMMM? Or is it just that they are working as hard, it's just less structured but still is at least 40 hours? They say yes, they work longer hours. I say that going to yoga in the middle of the day and out dinner with friends and staying up until 3 a.m. on weeknight drinking wine isn't "working" as I know it

[bklyndirt]

Freelance is definitely more than 40 hours (at least in my and Steve's expereince), just less structured. As for all that not working we supposedly do, well it's just an illusion. I love taking long lunches or breakfasts and going to midday yoga, but we paid for it later since we always used to go back to work after J is in bed when the 9-5ers are watching Lost and knitting. Of course, before J there were more nights up late with wine, now all non-work hours are childcare hours.

[nex0s]

A-HA!!!!

There are benefits to the 40 hour work week too :)

N.

[nex0s]

I keep re-reading what I wrote, and am worried now that I hurt your feelings which isn't the point.

I guess what it comes down to is that I'm envious of the folk I know who have worked less than 40 hours and could make a living. That has NEVER been the case for me - when I was married I supported both david and myself on whatever I made as he made little to no money (and complained vigorously about any "straight work" he did at all).

So, yeah. I don't understand how people make a living working less than 40 hours a week, honestly. I don't know how they do it, and folk don't really talk about it and it's considered rude to ask (and I'm already considered pretty damn rude to begin with).

So, yeah. If I hurt your feelings, I'm sorry. I hope I didn't!

N.

[bklyndirt]

Not at all! I have no boundaries when it comes to work/financial stuff. Well that's not quite true, I keep some for other people's benefit, but I don't care for them much myself.

I bet all those people you know who work so little either have no one depending on them or have a partner or a roommate with whom to share the burden. They live in crappy apartments, rarely take real vacations, have no savings, no health insurance, and no retirement. What they do have: free time, no dependents, and probably debt from the credit card they got while in college. Once in a while, one of them will have a parent who takes care of them or funds some of their more extravagant adventures.

When I was in school and not working, Steve worked his butt off to support us - well more than 40 hours a week. He will continue to do so even with me having a full time job. Some people have the work ethic, some don't.

[midnightstation]

I am glad you like your job and that things are going well there. In a about a few months time it will not be as hard. You will fell more settled in and be breezing through the stuff faster with more time to hang out on the internet. (the internet is mad eso 9-5 people can slack off)

The money put aside for taxes will be good. Even if they take more out than normal it will give a bit of a cusion for tax time for the whole family.

We should all do wine and a movie one night. =)

-S