I quit my job on Friday. Or at least I tried to. The HR person said I did it wrong (something about the effective date), so I have some calls to make to the retirement system on Monday, then I'll go in later next week and resign correctly.
I had applied for and gotten a part time position (adjunct, which means temporary, semester to semester) teaching history at a 2-year community college in suburban Minneapolis. I would have actually really liked this job and I very very very seriously entertained the idea of taking it, but I just now sent off a short letter declining it and a very long text to my connection there who helped me land the courses, explaining everything. I hope they understand. The timing just wasn't right, as I would have had to be in Minneapolis by mid-August and Michael couldn't have moved out with me right away, so we would have been apart for 4 months, at least. I think we were surprised to realize how much we didn't want to do that part. Maybe distance relationships are something you can handle when you're twenty three, but for us right now, the benefits did not outweigh the costs. The lengthy and frequently existential conversations we've had over the past 72 hours have been important and clarifying, and allowed me to see that going back to my regular job in September was not at all what I wanted to do.
So I am going to spend the coming year on a personal sabbatical, do a lot of writing and gardening, possibly visit New Zealand in December and/or January, and get the house ready to put on the market next year some time for when we do move. I feel calm, like a lid just got lifted off my head and I have room to breathe.
Way to go, Penelope. Thrilled for your personal sabbatical/adventure.
Posted by: Vega Subramaniam | 07/11/2022 at 09:42 AM