After being at the new job for a month now, a routine is finally beginning to take shape. I initially tried to bus downtown for the first week, but I gave up and started driving.
I live three miles from my office, so the 45-minute public transit commute felt ridiculous. I also decided that subjecting myself to the chaos of downtown’s West End Station was not worth it. Why was I standing in 100 degree heat among drug dealers, panhandlers, and drunk people while waiting for a bus that would be 20 minutes late?
Now that my public transportation experiment ended, my commutes are way shorter, cheaper, and more comfortable. (Hey, at least I tried.)
Working from an office everyday also means that I have to plan my week better. As a remote worker I did not have to worry about lunch, laundry, and workout schedules. Now, if I don’t think about those things I’ll end up a mismatched slob with McDonalds bags piling up in the car. That’s not a good look.
I forgot to bring lunch today, so I walked the Chipotle near the sketchy West End transportation hub. I had just finished my meal when a homeless man walked by the restaurant and nodded at me. The next thing I know, he’s inside trying to get my attention.
After smiling politely, I left the restaurant only to be followed and shouted after for 3-4 blocks. I think this is why people downtown are so hesitant to make eye-contact with strangers. Next time, I’ll remember to eat at the office.
Another big adjustment is having coworkers who not only publish interesting work, but also use social media. It’s a lot to keep up with, although luckily most people don’t assume you’ve read an article published an hour ago.
The new gig also means that the morning dog walks are on a much stricter timeline. We have to get up really early to maintain the 6 mile Katy Trail romps. So far we succeed 50% of the time, but hopefully that will improve this week.
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