About yesterday’s trip, and other business
So about that trip I took yesterday. I guess I owe all my loyal blog readers an explanation, so I’ll give you the best one I can: Yes, I flew to D.C., and yes, it was a job interview. I can’t say with whom, but I can tell you it was with a major firm. I can tell you that it’s not my dream job. I’m not being considered for a writing position. But if it were to pan out, the job would have certain advantages, and those advantages have me seriously considering it.
Now, on to the thing y’all all want to know: How did it go? That’s a difficult question to answer. The trip itself was a total nightmare. There were logistical problems from the first minute. I had some trouble Sunday night and ended up getting no sleep at all. I had an awful time in D.C. Monday morning. The flight back last night was almost unbearable. By the time I got home, I was a complete basket case, on the absolute brink of nervous exhaustion. On the brink? Nonsense. I sailed right past the brink without even a second glance.
But the interviews themselves went well, I think. I met several new people, all of whom I liked a lot. And I think they liked me. They didn’t make me an offer, but it seems like they intend to soon. I’m going to be in touch with them some more this afternoon to talk about some of the details, and I guess we’ll see what happens.
I wish I’d gotten a better first impression of D.C. I’ve been there before, of course, a few times, but only briefly, and only in a very touristy way. Today was the first time I saw D.C. from the point of view of a prospective resident. And I didn’t care for it. It’s going to be insanely expensive to live there. My home life is important to me; I can’t really do my best work, or really even be happy, if I don’t feel good at home. And I just didn’t get a very at-home feeling during the brief time I was there. Clearly I need to refrain from passing any judgments yet, but I can tell you that I’m not looking forward to the prospect of moving back into a tiny apartment in the middle of a busy city.
I don’t know. I need to do some soul-searching. I need to decide what feels right for me. Because right now, right this minute … nothing does.