and so it begins

What I consider concert season kicked off last week. Sure sure, other bands started earlier this summer, but the one I follow set foot on the stage together for the first time in over 500 days on Friday and I felt it in my bones.

All the way on the other side of the continent.

Fans everywhere joined together in a collective sigh of relief. We’ve all missed this music… perhaps more than we’ve missed our coworkers and it felt good to listen to live streams, and talk about how they played our favorite song and roll our eyes at the people who were already complaining about the set list.

Yes, concert season is back.

We almost did something highly irresponsible and purchased tickets for the show… last Wednesday. That would have required a red eye to Raleigh on Thursday night, last minute hotel, car rental/train tickets to Charlotte, a flight home… oh, and tickets to the show off Stub Hub as it was sold out. Our hearts would have been full but that bank account would have felt it.

We didn’t do that.

I’d like to think I’m spontaneous enough to make that happen, but let’s be honest, I’m just shy of complete spontaneity and do quite well in waiting for things to be planned out in advance. We have the itch, though, and a couple of shows before Labor Day weekend might get added to the roster. If not, we’ll be fine with what we have lined up.

FINE.

That whole fear of missing out thing is strong this year.

Life is starting to settle in to the new job. I’ve moved from contractor status to a regular, salaried employee. Maybe I’ve mentioned that. Even so, that feels good. Contractor always feels a bit “one foot out of the door” and I’ve never been that way with a job. I’m trying my hardest to get used to this new pace. The pace of not managing people, only having to worry about my project work and not my project work PLUS the work and happiness of my entire team. I miss that, but I also don’t, if that makes sense. I worry that I’m not doing enough, but I also know I’m doing what I was hired to do, so where does that doubt come in?

It’s nice to have time at lunch, in the evenings and on weekends to not worry about work. I’ve just not had that since 2004, so that will take some getting used to. I fill my time, I’m not one to find herself with nothing to do. That jewelry side gig I ramped back up during the pandemic is actually going stronger than ever… so that keeps me busy.

So instead of managing projects and people, perhaps I’ll just manage people and hobbies. I’ll be that person. We’ll see how this goes.

I’m certainly stress free for the first time in years and honestly, that feels strange.