Anniversary
Two years ago today I resigned my position with Intel as a Software Evaluation Engineer.
At the time it was probably the scariest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s led to an amazing change for me.
I’ve gone from a lifestye supported by a $60K a year job to surviving on around $12K a year from whatever I can earn. We’ve started a small nursery, I’m in the best physical shape I’ve been in 15 or 20 years, and more importantly, I’m the happiest I’ve been in years. The money was nice, but I’m more than compensated by the lack of pressure, seeing a job completed day to day and finally, being my own boss. No regrets and no changes planned.
Obligatory Knitting Content…. About 3/4 through pattern E. I’ll try to post a photo later today or tomorrow.
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anne wrote:
It’s scary, Jerry, but I’m in agreement with you. I did it, leaving a high-paid conventional profession to do something for my quality of life, and it was the best thing I could have done, too. Happy anniversary. Mine comes up (1 year) in July.
Posted on 24-May-03 at 12:22 pm | Permalink
Emma wrote:
A brilliant anniversary.Congratulations.Hope you have many more happy years doing what suits your soul.
Posted on 24-May-03 at 12:48 pm | Permalink
Bess wrote:
Good on ya, as my Aussie friends say. We did it too - only in 1975 - when it was less scary because we were so much younger. But it has made all the difference in the world to live the life I love.
many many more happy anniversaries to you
Posted on 25-May-03 at 3:13 am | Permalink
Stephanie wrote:
congratulations, isn’t it wonderful what a little abject poverty will do for the soul? We did the same thing a couple of years ago, and now explain to people that we have an “artistic lifestyle”. Translation, no dental plan, a wildly fluctuating income, long weekends, big messes, an ability to look at a twenty dollar bill and see instantly how much groceries it will buy and five very happy people.
Posted on 25-May-03 at 6:47 am | Permalink
Lisa in NJ wrote:
Beautiful blog entry; very inspiring. It’s what I’m trying to figure out now. Thanks for the lovely and personal post.
Posted on 26-May-03 at 4:38 am | Permalink
LynnH wrote:
Jerry, I left my corporate Software Training position (I’d driven to a new location to teach every day for 6 years) about 4 years ago.
At first my decision was lucrative, because we were in the midst of the Y2K scare and I got lots of consulting jobs. However, in the last 2 years all my friends in computer jobs now have different computer jobs, often at lower wages. I didn’t lose my job (only because I’m self-employed) but the consulting is slowed considerably.
Yet in the end, I love my new life where I make a living doing a little consulting, a little computer training, a little art teaching, a little knitting teaching, selling patterns and handpainted fibers/yarns, dancing and performing as a musician… all for less money but lots more satisfaction than before. I wouldn’t go back.
Thanks for the reminder.
Posted on 26-May-03 at 1:13 pm | Permalink
Margaret wrote:
I also gave up a computer job for a different life and am happier than I’ve ever been, but I occasionally find myself overstating the amount of work for pay I do, as if representing myself as a housewife is not okay. Guess I still haven’t given up the money=success mind set. It’s nice to see others who have taken the plunge.
Thanks for posting the gansey pictures. I’m in the planning stages and wanted to see some pictures of horizontal patterning - since that’s what I want to do.
Posted on 04-Jun-03 at 11:12 am | Permalink