Employed at last

Two years and nine months after I was laid off, I got another job. It's a good job. I really like it.

The job market heated up earlier this year, and I began to see suitable vacancies and was even headhunted a few times. Alas, after many interviews, nobody offered me a job. I assumed that it was prolly due to my age, although a couple of companies came across as so regimented/unpleasant that I doubt I would have accepted a position anyway.

During this time, I decided to attempt some networking even though I don't like it. This time I got lucky.

Someone who had worked at my previous employer was now head of Marketing at a newish lender, based in California. They were small but growing, and best of all, they didn't take themselves too seriously. After a single interview, she sent me an offer the next day, and I took it. Three days later a stack of computer equipment arrived at the front door (I'm working remotely - I have no plans to relocate), and two days after that, my job officially began. It was late July, so I've been working for over a month.

Even the job hours work for a slacker like me. Since almost everyone else is on Pacific time, I don't log in until 9:30 am, and work until 6:30 pm. The only drawback is that I can't cycle on weekdays, but I decided to set up an indoor trainer fairly soon.

While I initially entertained the thought of finding an apartment -  my aunt actually believes that President Biden symbolizes the end of the world, and watches Faux News nonstop - the prices stopped me. This neck of the woods became awfully popular after the rise of the COVID-related home office. Some apartments were charging almost as much as California landlords.

There's not much else to tell for now. A proper salary - more than what my previous employer paid - frees one to start thinking of stuff like vacations and even buying a place. So I've been doing a lot of this.