Big changes
Posted 08-20-2009 at 11:49 PM by No spoken words
I've not posted in here for a while now, but I figured with all the changes coming up for me, I might as well revive this.
I'll keep it as concise as I can.
Here's what is going down:
1) I am leaving my job at my current Network. I have worked there for 2.5 years, and have been with the parent company for 12 years this September. They have been good to me, and I hope I've been a quality employee for them. I leave on good terms, which pleases me. I am leaving for two reasons. The first is that my time in this industry has simply come. While I still love sports and love televising them, the fact is that I no longer relate to today's TV viewer. When I look at the weekly Top 10 rated broadcast and cable programs, I largely see stuff I loathe, and the stuff I love is either buried in relative obscurity or gets cancelled. When you're a programmer and you don't know why people like to watch what they watch, it's time to move on. The other reason for my leaving is:
2) I'm moving in with my girlfriend. This needs no explanation. We're in love and the long distance thing needs to end. I never really tossed in the towel when it comes to marriage, etc, but to be honest once I turned 30 or so I assumed that I'd remain a bachelor. My goal has always been to be happy, and that can be done with or without a partner. However, to find a partner, someone you're giddy to be around and to presumably spend the rest of your life with when you never really went out of your way to find one....that's serendipitous. We could move in together and it could all fall apart, who knows, but we're both feeling good about the future.
3) To make #2 happen, I'm moving to the Bay Area of California. However, I was going to move back West either way, be it NoCal or SoCal. I just knew that I wanted to get out of my current career, and get out of the Midwest. No offense, at all, towards the people that love Chicago or the Midwest. It was just not a good fit for me. So, since things with my gf are going so well, it's off to No Cal, an area I know pretty well and love.
4) This is related to #1, in that I'm going to embark on a new phase of my professional life. I am doing research on three different fields of interest, and will choose one path in the coming months. The fields are education, working in the non-profit sector or psychology. If I choose psychology, it might be with an eye towards being a school counselor, so I can sort of merge passions of mine. I don't know which I'll choose, but all three prospects excite me and the idea of returning to school to make these options become a reality is awfully exciting.
So, this is a lot at once. It's incredibly exciting, very liberating and a little scary. I try to not think of all the changes at once, but instead dwell on them on at a time. Changing jobs, cities and relationship status all at once is daunting. But, all of this feels right to me.
The plan is to work at my gig until the end of next month....drive from Chicago to SF, but take a scenic route so I can see the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana..places I've yet to visit....spend the first week of October looking for apartments with my gf. Then spend the rest of October in NYC, so I can catch up with neglected old friends, see their growing families....and spend some quality time with my family, be it watching football with my Dad on a few Sundays, taking my Mom out for dinner so just the two of us can talk, or seeing my sister and her wonderful baby twin girls. Then, back to SF in November, move into our new place, and that's that.
Anyway, if you read this, thanks, I appreciate it.
I'll keep it as concise as I can.
Here's what is going down:
1) I am leaving my job at my current Network. I have worked there for 2.5 years, and have been with the parent company for 12 years this September. They have been good to me, and I hope I've been a quality employee for them. I leave on good terms, which pleases me. I am leaving for two reasons. The first is that my time in this industry has simply come. While I still love sports and love televising them, the fact is that I no longer relate to today's TV viewer. When I look at the weekly Top 10 rated broadcast and cable programs, I largely see stuff I loathe, and the stuff I love is either buried in relative obscurity or gets cancelled. When you're a programmer and you don't know why people like to watch what they watch, it's time to move on. The other reason for my leaving is:
2) I'm moving in with my girlfriend. This needs no explanation. We're in love and the long distance thing needs to end. I never really tossed in the towel when it comes to marriage, etc, but to be honest once I turned 30 or so I assumed that I'd remain a bachelor. My goal has always been to be happy, and that can be done with or without a partner. However, to find a partner, someone you're giddy to be around and to presumably spend the rest of your life with when you never really went out of your way to find one....that's serendipitous. We could move in together and it could all fall apart, who knows, but we're both feeling good about the future.
3) To make #2 happen, I'm moving to the Bay Area of California. However, I was going to move back West either way, be it NoCal or SoCal. I just knew that I wanted to get out of my current career, and get out of the Midwest. No offense, at all, towards the people that love Chicago or the Midwest. It was just not a good fit for me. So, since things with my gf are going so well, it's off to No Cal, an area I know pretty well and love.
4) This is related to #1, in that I'm going to embark on a new phase of my professional life. I am doing research on three different fields of interest, and will choose one path in the coming months. The fields are education, working in the non-profit sector or psychology. If I choose psychology, it might be with an eye towards being a school counselor, so I can sort of merge passions of mine. I don't know which I'll choose, but all three prospects excite me and the idea of returning to school to make these options become a reality is awfully exciting.
So, this is a lot at once. It's incredibly exciting, very liberating and a little scary. I try to not think of all the changes at once, but instead dwell on them on at a time. Changing jobs, cities and relationship status all at once is daunting. But, all of this feels right to me.
The plan is to work at my gig until the end of next month....drive from Chicago to SF, but take a scenic route so I can see the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana..places I've yet to visit....spend the first week of October looking for apartments with my gf. Then spend the rest of October in NYC, so I can catch up with neglected old friends, see their growing families....and spend some quality time with my family, be it watching football with my Dad on a few Sundays, taking my Mom out for dinner so just the two of us can talk, or seeing my sister and her wonderful baby twin girls. Then, back to SF in November, move into our new place, and that's that.
Anyway, if you read this, thanks, I appreciate it.
Total Comments 47
Comments
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That's a shit ton of changes, my friend. A lot to take on at once, but you seem to have a solid perspective concerning them. I wish you and your GF much happiness and fulfillment.
Posted 08-21-2009 at 12:18 AM by LemonMelon 
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oh wow! congrats!! good luck with finding a place and a new career. i can picture you as a school counselor. 
Posted 08-21-2009 at 12:20 AM by KhanadaRhodes 
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congratulations and good luck!Posted 08-21-2009 at 12:22 AM by coolian2 -
Wow, lots of changes indeed! Congratulations! And, enjoy going back to school; it really is fun a lot of the time, especially if you're studying something you like.Posted 08-21-2009 at 01:14 AM by onebloodonelife -
Awesome! Changes can be good, though I'm usually scared of change.
You'll be in my neck of the woods
Are you moving actually IN San Francisco or a city nearby?Posted 08-21-2009 at 01:47 AM by Sicy -
Congratulations and good luck with all your big steps forward. I've always found the scariest changes to be the most rewarding. Happy for you.
I guess.
Whatever.Posted 08-21-2009 at 01:50 AM by kafrun -
Good for you Mike.
I wish you nothing but the best, seriously.
Posted 08-21-2009 at 01:52 AM by RedRocksU2 -
Wow - so awesome! Congrats and good luck! Sounds crazy scary, but so excellent at the same time.Posted 08-21-2009 at 01:53 AM by Thora - Btw, be careful in NoCal....Sicy, Miri and Justin are there ya know.
Posted 08-21-2009 at 01:54 AM by RedRocksU2 -
New chapters!! So excited for you.
School counselor I could see. non profit seems full of possibilities for you.
CongratulationsPosted 08-21-2009 at 02:15 AM by redkat -
You've given me so much stellar advice over the years that I wish I had something cool to say to you back. Either way, it's fantastic to see that you're so driven to make a change like this for the better, when so many would sit on their ass and weigh the logistics of it to no end, you know? It's inspiring stuff. Certainly deserve it, too. Best of luck to you, man.Posted 08-21-2009 at 02:27 AM by LMP -
I hope this doesn't sound patronizing, but I'm pretty proud of you for quitting while you're ahead and taking a chance with some major moves, professionally, geographically, and personally. Not only do you seem like a straight-up guy, but you're someone who's not just gonna sit around and wait for (Jew) magic to happen.
Hope it all works out for you, and with a little luck you'll still be able to get your hands on the douchebag seats.Posted 08-21-2009 at 02:44 AM by lazarus -
Thanks, all!
Sicy, most likely the East Bay, to be precise.
Carlos, no need for the "seriously", I assumed you were being genuine. Not sure who Justin and Miri are but I do know that Sicy and Diemen are in the area. I happen to have some good friends up there as well as in SoCal, so I'm pleased about that.
Kat, thanks so much!
Laz, that does not sound patronizing at all. I appreciate the sentiment.
And YLB, your kind words are very cool. Thanks, I appreciate it!!!Posted 08-21-2009 at 02:45 AM by No spoken words -
Wow. Big changes indeed, Mike. It's no easy task to make big adjustments in your life's course (as if you need to be told this...) - my hat's off to you for recognizing what brings you happiness and acting on it. That's really awesome.
Wherever you end up in the east bay, let me know. Would be cool to meet and reminisce about those good ol' douchebag seat days.
Posted 08-21-2009 at 02:58 AM by Diemen -
Mike, I'm very proud of you. I know how scary it is to suddenly quit a stable career and life, to pursue the unknown. I wholeheartedly believe that life is short and chaotic, and control is an illusion. Therefore, if we're not content with our present situation, then we should move on. I'm really glad that you're doing just that. There is absolutely nothing wrong with pursuing happiness.
I wish you all the best! I think the fields you are considering are excellent opportunities for you. If you have any questions about education, especially higher ed (be it applying for a program, or considering that field as a career), you know who to ask.
I hope we can hang out sometime before you go. I don't know if I'll be going to NYC in October, but the 'Cuse isn't too far from me.
Congrats and best wishes. Please get a new camera that doesn't suck so you can post awesome landscape pictures from your roadtrip.Posted 08-21-2009 at 06:43 AM by unico -
sounds like a great adventure to pursue and my best wishes to you. I think it takes great courage especially at this time to make such a big change and you are doing it for the all the right reasons..Find your passion in life and just go for it!
Posted 08-21-2009 at 07:37 AM by U2Fanatic4ever -
Mike, that's really awesome. I'm happy for you. I wish you all the best in everything that you do. We've talked off and on over the years and you are a pretty cool guy. So good luck and have fun pursuing your new goals. Oh, are you still seeing U2 in Chicago? We have to meet before you leave!Posted 08-21-2009 at 08:32 AM by U2Girl1978 -
Posted 08-21-2009 at 08:43 AM by MissVelvetDress_75 -
Geez, dude. I'm not really feeling the love.
Anyway, congrats on doing what's best for you and on the lady friend.
Posted 08-21-2009 at 08:51 AM by U2isthebest -
big to you...it takes a lot to make those kind of changes in life. i know i couldn't do it.
i really like the last major paragraph about spending time with your friends and family.
-danPosted 08-21-2009 at 11:05 AM by DRay9911
