The next steps

Lately I've been trying to sort out a bunch of stuff in my mind. Now that the tenure process is over, what's my next goal? I'm working even harder at work these days when I should be working "smarter" or letting go of some things. Why? Right now I feel if I take a day off, I'm three days behind at work. I must be doing something wrong. I have learned to say "no", but sometimes "no" is not an option.

I've been thinking about my "next career" as well. I've often thought that I want to retire early and then just write fiction for a living after that. I know I don't want to do what I'm doing forever. Since I work with technology as a trainer and as a troubleshooter, I know that eventually I won't be able to keep up. It happens to all of us, sooner than later. I do hope to go on to administration before that happens, to prolong my professional career, but I still want to leave early and slow down and enjoy life. Don't get me wrong, I like what I do and I appreciate the opportunities I've gotten. I just know I have other things to live for than my job.

Then I got to thinking, why not start my "next career" now? Like putting money away early for retirement, I don't have to do a lot now to get a larger reward later. If I can find an hour a day to practice my skills, maybe slowly work on stories for publication, I would be in better shape to do the things I want to do later.

I hope to spend more time on this blog as well. Maybe I'll actually be able to participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)like I've wanted to in the past few years. Who knows, maybe in the future you can tell your kids/nieces/nephews/adopted chihuahua that you knew me before I was famous. Then again, maybe I'll be telling my kin the same about you!

See you tomorrow, same Erf time, same Erf channel.. Perhaps. {smirk}