Blog-therapy

Yesterday and today are two of those days where I stop and stare at the post-it note on my desk that reads “vacation home” but means early retirement for a few minutes.  (Not a good idea to have a sign that actually says “early retirement” on your desk at work, right?)  Right next to the note are a few family pictures.  And behind my desk I have a cork board.  On the cork board I have a sign that reads “Right now I feel:”  I pin up a new “feeling” as often as my mood changes    Right now it reads: “in control.”  I’m about to change it to “tired.”

Yesterday I got called into work on the weekend.  In some industries they call it being “on call” and can be planned for with some regularity.  With my company it’s the nature of the beast.  Fortunately, it doesn’t happen very often – only a few times a year.  But when it does happen it makes it worse because it’s totally out of the blue!  Bye-bye weekend!

To make it worse, yesterday was my birthday.  I’m not a big “birthday guy.”  I’m pretty sure I have one every year.  Sometimes I ignore it.  Sometimes I use it as a time of reflection and to check in on my life and money goals.  This year I just wanted to refresh and relax with my family.  Then my phone rang.  It was one of my bosses from work who I’m very friendly with. 

I always answer my phone when it’s work and I see the call – even if I know it’s not going to be a good call – because I have a mantra that being responsive is 90% of success at the workplace.  The first person to respond to an e-mail or phone call always seems to be seen in a positive light – even if they respond with bad news or “sorry, not available.”

On top of that, Friday night he and I went to the Yankees/Red Sox game (Red Sox won!  Wahoo!) and had a great time, so I thought the call was about that.  I was also supposed to go again tonight (not anymore…) so I figured the call was just a friendly call.

I was wrong, wrong, wrong.

After I got off the phone I was a little frustrated.  It happens at times (I’ll have to change my cork board when I get to the office).  But it always helps me to take a step back for a minute and remember why I’m doing this.  Why such a hustle?  I work a ton of hours at my day gig (which often turns into a night gig)).  I also spend a little bit of time doing blog-therapy where I talk about my money and my life with all of you (thanks for visiting!).  I just started back at the gym.  And I have a fantastic family – a son who is a ton of fun and a great wife who holds it all together. 

So why do I do it?

1. First, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love my job.  I just wouldn’t.  That’s not who I am.  It’s not worth dedicating 10-15 hours per day to something you can’t stand at the expense of spending time with people you love.
2. My family.  It’s very simple.  I work hard so my wife and son can have a better life.  And I work hard so I can have a better life even though I sacrifice 2-7 hours per day to “extra” work.  I need to figure out a better balance because I sleep no more than 6 hours per day and that’s supposedly not very healthy (but that “real age” website says I have the health of a 24-year-old despite my lack of sleep… ooohhh.  I wonder if I could be a teenager again..).
3. Time.  I’m starting a new project.  I just thought of it.  I’m going to earn my time back.  I’m in my seventh year at my company.  They have records of all the time I’ve worked.  They can get me that.  I’m going to add up the “extra” hours I’ve worked assuming 40 hour weeks and two weeks vacation for the “normal” gig.  And the goal will be to make up the “extra” hours I’ve worked at the back end (by retiring early).  I haven’t worked out the details, but I’ll also want some return on my investment.  So maybe the goal will be to have 1.5 times the hours made up on the back end.

There are more reasons but 1 and 2 can pretty much cover it all.  When I look at my family pics on my desk I always seem to feel a little better.  I know I’m doing it for us.  Well, sorry for the stream of consciousness post, but I needed a bit of blog-therapy this morning.  Now back to work.  I’ll check in a little later (maybe early afternoon today) when I take a break   And at some point I’ll fix the inevitable seventeen typos in this rant…    Feel free to print, edit, scan and e-mail your corrections to saftmblog (at) gmail (dot) come… That’s an open offer on all posts!

How are you spending your weekend?  Please do something nice and relaxing for me!  I’ll be living vicariously through all of you this weekend.

Until next time, put your credit card down and slowly step away from the mall!