Funemployment

Well, I have been unemployed for a little over two weeks now... technically homeless too!

It's mostly been great.  The first few days were pretty rough, though.  My body had to adjust to a normal sleep schedule again (a diet of coffee and, well more coffee, can only sustain a person for so long!), and I went through a bit of shock as I dealt with leaving Baltimore, my job, and my community. The last week before I left was crazy, all of my plans for the next year had completely changed in a matter of hours, so I was in survival mode. Smile through the goodbyes, don't even think about succumbing to exhaustion, reschedule flights, pack pack pack pack! So I was a little moody when I landed at my dad's place and the dust finally settled. (Sorry Dad.)

But, I've quickly settled into the indulgence of being on holiday.  Sitting on the porch with the dog, reading for hours on end (yes, I read Twilight! among other, more substantial writings), mastering the art of pancakes, baking my first loaf of gluten free bread, listening to records, watching lots of TV, watching lots of people in the coffee shop, getting lost on a bike trail to a nearby town. And of course spending time with friends and family.  I've needed the solitude, more than I've allowed myself in a long time.  I'm still a little unsure about how to structure my days.  It's hard to allow my life to move at a slower (but still purposeful) pace than I'm used to, especially since my usual alternative is to do nothing and be a slug all day!

I'm starting to look ahead to what's next on my journey. Traveling to the UK & Spain, doing some volunteer farming, visiting friends, walking the camino de santiago, and being a little bit of a tourist. Lots of excitement and adventure!  I'm looking forward to being out of my element for awhile, getting some fresh air, and hopefully finding time to clarify my design for my post-"funemployment" life.  It's a little exhilarating that I don't know where I'll be in December, or what I'll be up to, but I'm trying to embrace the ambiguity and receive it as a gift.

A friend of mine got married yesterday, and it was lovely!  My favorite perk of celebrating friends' marriages is that usually the wedding is a reunion of my many dear ones who are scattered on all ends of the earth.  Yesterday was no exception.  It warmed my heart to hug so many people I haven't seen in far too long, to hear where life has led them since we last saw each other, to have so many meaningful conversations.  It's concentrated happiness, pure magic!  My friends lead really interesting lives, and I loved hearing their stories, good and bad.  They inspire me, affirm me, encourage me in what I'm doing.  Yesterday gave me an energy that I needed to move forward and take advantage of this sabbatical I have, to nurture my own spirit, explore my creativity, try new recipes, learn from others, reflect, ponder, laugh, read, take more walks, surrender fully to the Universe.  Figure out what it actually means to "surrender fully to the Universe"....

But first, I might watch another episode (or five) of Arrested Development!