The Next Trapeze

I got a job!

But I don't have to do it yet.

When I wrote the last post, I had interviewed/auditioned for a position that I thought could be a great fit for me, and was waiting to hear whether I'd gotten it. I had to wait two weeks, which always feels like a longer time to the person waiting than it does to the person making the decision (one of many ways in which job searches are like dating). I wanted to write a post about how great unemployment has been before I knew the results of my interview, because I wanted it to come from  my perspective while I was still in the middle of it, and not after I knew how it was going to end.

I have my answer now: I have been offered the position, accepted it, and have begun the process of taking drug tests and other pre-employment tasks. Paid training doesn't start till sometime in April, though, and I haven't filled out the official employment paperwork, so I still have a few weeks of "vacation" till I'm back in the working world. In many ways, it's a fantastic situation, where I still have subsidized time off, but I know when and how it will end, and the next stage is exciting to me.

When I'd been unemployed for only a couple weeks, I saw a singer-songwriter perform at my church. He sang a song called "The Bird," about a trapeze artist, and said it was a metaphor for life transitions: Sometimes you have to let go of one trapeze before you grab the next one, and the brave are able to do something beautiful with the space in between. I wanted to make the most of my "in-between time," if I could. I wasn't sure exactly what that would entail, but I felt like my main job in this season of transition was simply not to worry, at least not at first. And I managed to do that with little difficulty. Of course, this season was much easier on me than it is for most people. The money didn't run out, and I had no one else depending on me for support. I was just happy to be free of work that I hated, and, while I didn't know what lay before me, I knew what I was leaving behind and was glad to leave it there.

Now I know what the next trapeze is: I'll be an actress and tour guide with one of the many historical sites and museums in Boston! I get to wear custom-made costumes, in colors and fabrics that I chose myself. I'll lead tours and take on the roles of real-life women, and also be a fictional character or two. I get to dress up and perform for a living! Pretty clothes and attention! It'll be full-time, year-round, and after the first three months, I'll even get health benefits. For an actor, that's virtually unheard of. The money isn't huge, but it should keep all the bills paid, and I may have time to continue to pursue other acting work, which may eventually supplement my income. And even if it doesn't, I'll be spending my days doing something I enjoy! How novel! 

I've found myself thinking and saying the words, "my awesome life," on more than one occasion. In the course of six months, my daily existence went from feeling meh to feeling awesome. In some ways, a change in job is such a simple fix. And in others, it's complicated and hard to get right. I haven't begun the work yet, or even the training, but I'm looking forward to all of it, and that's huge. What a gift!

So, there's the latest news from me. The season of transition is coming into home stretch, and I'm looking to score. While there have been -- and continue to be -- some logistical hiccups, things have been quite pleasant overall. I'm really happy to have such good news to share with you!

And if you happen to be in Beantown sometime after June 26 of this year, come check out the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. I'll be there, chucking tea overboard and, I hope, loving every minute of it.