Dreaming About the Future

 Last night I attended Neil King Jr's author visit at the Princeton Public Library to tout his book American ramble: a walk of memory and recall. This was a joint event with the Princeton Historical Society. As Eve from PHS introduced Neil, she included the line: "He worked a multitude of jobs, from busboy and ranch hand to cab driver and private investigator, before settling into a career in journalism." I was hooked.

Full disclosure, I have not yet read his book. I am on hold for it at our local library, and do intend to read it. Another disclosure, I did not take any pictures last night because I did not intend to write a blog post about the event. I went with Don because it sounded interesting.

So why write this post?

As I sat in the crowded Community Room, I was equal parts fascinated with his story and dreaming about writing my own book. What would I write about? Could I turn some of these blog posts into something that would garner the interest of a publisher and generate real income? What would that look like?

After the event, Don's friend Silvia invited me to her home for dinner to meet the author. On a whim I said yes. Don had to leave early for another activity. I spent the evening listening to very well educated people talk about cycling adventures, activism, Mennonites, and more. Topics I had very little to add, but no one seemed to mind me listening in as I noshed on cheese.

More dreaming. This time about hosting a dinner party with the ease of Silvia and her husband, Clive. Dinner was simple -- risotto made before they left for the library event, and a tossed salad. Extra chairs were effortlessly added around the table. Wine flowed (I didn't drink as I had to drive home along deer and wildlife filled neighborhoods). 

A couple of weeks I sort of left my job. "Sort of" because I agreed to come in a bit over the summer to send out thank you notes and train my replacement. There was no specific reason for leaving other than it was time. The end of school year was approaching and I knew I didn't want to write another annual report or plan another gala. 

I left without a plan for the future. Very un-Virgo-like of me.

I am calling this a sabbatical because I'm not ready to be retired. I'm also not ready to return to work full-time, and am in a position I don't have to.

In the past few days I've learned about a couple of positions that are possibly in the works of being created -- and would be dream jobs, and another one that does exist that might be a good match. All to say, it will work out.

Meanwhile, I am planning a dream trip to New Zealand and Australia for September and keeping my heart open to dream.