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jaeclecticFirst and foremost, I have wonderful friends. I am grateful for my close friends and my casual friends, for those I see often and for those I barely keep in touch with, for those I have known many years and for those who have only appeared in my life recently, and even for those who are only glimmering possibilities.
It is really good to be living in the Bay Area. I can hardly imagine what my life would be like now if I had stayed in PA and kept my job @ (W). Of the various things that make being here great, the first that come to mind are: a political atmosphere where my views are in the range of ordinary; and an amazingly beautiful natural environment in close proximity to vibrant urban neighborhoods.
Despite recent turbulence, and a certain amount of strain over the past few years, I am doing remarkably well in my career. I mean, think about it: I quit my job, went to grad school for 2 years, then managed to find work in the midst of an economic collapse -- and not only a job, but work that provided a near-perfect transition from the kind of work I did before grad school to the new stuff I'd become interested in -- and now 3 years later I'm doing exactly the kind of work I decided I wanted to do, I'm making good money, and I work with people I really like and respect (who seem to like and respect me also).
I have many fine material things. Cool car, cool apartment, a Turkish carpet, an absurd quantity of books, a flat-screen TV, numerous objet d'art, and so on, and so forth.
I have two lovely cats who are exceptionally cuddly, and continuously amusing, and in good health.
With all the hard things that have happened recently, and continue to happen in the world, the basics should not be dismissed: food, shelter, clean water, basic personal safety.
I am grateful that all of my friends are safe, and for the most part well, or at least being cared for.
I continue to learn how to take better care of myself. This is not an easy thing to feel grateful for, but important.
Last and least but most immediate, I have a long weekend to hang out with friends and eat good food and relax. Life is good!
It is really good to be living in the Bay Area. I can hardly imagine what my life would be like now if I had stayed in PA and kept my job @ (W). Of the various things that make being here great, the first that come to mind are: a political atmosphere where my views are in the range of ordinary; and an amazingly beautiful natural environment in close proximity to vibrant urban neighborhoods.
Despite recent turbulence, and a certain amount of strain over the past few years, I am doing remarkably well in my career. I mean, think about it: I quit my job, went to grad school for 2 years, then managed to find work in the midst of an economic collapse -- and not only a job, but work that provided a near-perfect transition from the kind of work I did before grad school to the new stuff I'd become interested in -- and now 3 years later I'm doing exactly the kind of work I decided I wanted to do, I'm making good money, and I work with people I really like and respect (who seem to like and respect me also).
I have many fine material things. Cool car, cool apartment, a Turkish carpet, an absurd quantity of books, a flat-screen TV, numerous objet d'art, and so on, and so forth.
I have two lovely cats who are exceptionally cuddly, and continuously amusing, and in good health.
With all the hard things that have happened recently, and continue to happen in the world, the basics should not be dismissed: food, shelter, clean water, basic personal safety.
I am grateful that all of my friends are safe, and for the most part well, or at least being cared for.
I continue to learn how to take better care of myself. This is not an easy thing to feel grateful for, but important.
Last and least but most immediate, I have a long weekend to hang out with friends and eat good food and relax. Life is good!