I made it through another year, and even though May has just been crazy hectic, I'm proud of it. In addition to meeting my coworkers, celebrating Mother's Day and my birthday, I now have a NJ Real ID on order, a new Camry that I picked up today, and auto insurance to go along with it. Next on the list is a new dentist tomorrow, asking my gyno about getting a new IUD that will hopefully last me until menopause, and working on Memorial Day because I'm just a glutton for punishment lol.

I'm not sure if working at LIB conditioned me to not expect holidays, weekends, or traditional schedules, or if my work ethic allowed me to succeed at LIB by not expecting those things that make a "normal" work/life balance, but either way I find it convenient that I'm open to being flexible with my schedule. It's very much that attitude that allowed me to live in NYC as well - everything is open to compromise, and if something isn't working, then it's up to me to find an alternate solution, no matter how I have to do it. If the subway isn't running, where's the nearest bus? Is there a taxi available? And if not, well, time to hoof it. I find that attitude less useful here in NJ, but the lesson still sticks with me.

So it's back to focusing on all the little things that need to be completed, no matter how I get them done.

After a year and two months at SIB, I finally got to meet my coworkers and it was awesome. I'm exhausted today, but yesterday I was up at 4:30am, on the 6:08 train, and at the office at 8:30. I'd never been to the office either, and it's a really nice building! After working all day, the nine of us in my department went to dinner at 6pm and had a great time, especially since it was the first time since the pandemic that all of them have seen each other in person as well. Then it was back to Penn Station, a 45 minute delay before my train left because NJ Transit SUCKS, and I was home by 1:30am. 

Two major takeaways: 1. I love that our department gets along so well and that everyone truly seems to like the others. The next newest researcher has been at SIB 13 years, so it's a stable group of decent people, which bodes well for a long career there. 2. There's no way in hell I could do this commute on a daily basis. As great as it was to be on the subway again, moving through the NYC streets, working in an office, and naturally getting exercise again, it's just too damn far. When I commuted there last time from here I was 24. My body at 44 has zero chance of being able to do that now - and luckily I don't think I'll be asked to do so.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day but today I did the basics of cleaning and then it's back to status quo. I'm proud of myself for passing with flying colors at being a regular worker again, even for a day, and that I can be myself and succeed at socialization lol.

 One more life event completed - I have a car coming in to the dealership in early June so I will no longer have to depend on the 2004 Camry I've been using. As wonderful as that car has been, it will go back to live the rest of its life out as my parents' second car, and I'll be the owner of a brand new car which will hopefully last just as long! The price was fair, I didn't pay for anything I didn't want, and I did the entire negotiation alone and stayed calm. I always think that I can't do things like this. Most of the time I prove myself wrong in the best way.

I also have drapes up in my bedroom for the first time in my life. As many things as I miss about the city, the activity, the food, the excitement and possibilities, I'm rediscovering nesting and working towards adult things I could never have afforded in NYC. Plus working from home means I can actually enjoy my home and not treat it as a hotel room to shower and sleep.

Friday I'm commuting into the city for my first day of work in the office, and while I'm looking forward to it, it's going to be a LONG day. Tentative plan is to be on the train 6:15, 7:15am at the latest, then working all day and we're doing a department dinner afterwards so I won't be home before 11pm at the earliest. I keep telling myself that it's only one day though. I can commute, work, be social, and will remind myself that I'm more capable than I give myself credit for. If I can negotiate a car and an apartment, I can handle this too.