Weekend Journal

I'm finishing off loose ends at my job — class presentations, finals, and clearing out my office. Another transition.

My temporary line at the local college is ending in a few weeks and, because the job market was entirely crappy this winter, I've spent the past few months planning out the next move on the career chess board.

One plan was to go back to the think tank/foundation world. I worked my way through grad school by writing policy papers on education, community organizations, and urban bureaucracy for a small policy center. I could go back to that world.

But that would mean traditional work hours and a commute into Manhattan. I would have to hire a nanny to be here by 7am to feed the kids breakfast and get them to school. She would have to get them off the school bus at 3pm, take them to activities, do homework, and make dinner. She would need to have a driving license and a high school degree. She would have to be available to watch the kids full time over school breaks and the summer. She would have to be nice to Ian. If I paid her legally, it would cost $30,000. Add on other expenses, ie. taxes, transportation, take out food, and clothes. I would need to make $80,000 to make it worthwhile.

Instead, I'm going to write a book and see what else materializes next year. I have several plans and am really anxious to get going on them.

Or I get a job as a cop in Rockland County.

I've been blogging about the work/family balance problem for many years now. I had things worked out  for a couple of years. A half-time line, a short commute, fewer kid demands. I built up my CV and did some good work. [Patting myself on the back.] But things just got hairy again. If I can tolerate the solitude of book writing, then everything will be cool. I'm just worried that I'll crack being at home alone and end up taking a job at Pottery Barn.