Okay, it’s not quite five years on from when I wrote this post, but when I randomly stumbled across it while previewing a post I was working on, I decided now was the time to revisit it. Odds are I might not remember to check back in 8 months’ time…
So, here’s my 2009 vision for my life five years later, compared with reality:
1. What time do you wake up, and how are you feeling as you greet the day? I’m up at 7, feeling energised (More like 8am these days. YESSS.)
2. Where are you? If you’re at home, what does it look like? In my own house (maybe a Lockwood) with big kitchen, walkin pantry, garage, ensuite bathroom and decent sized closet (Nowhere near. We do have a lot of storage space here, though)
3. Who is with you? T. Maybe a pet (preferably a cat, but more likely a puppy if T has his way) (Still renting, no pets. T’s still around; we did get married after all)
4. What kind of work are you doing? (if you have no idea what kind of work you’ll be doing or want to be doing, list the qualities you want to find in the work you do and the kind of work environment you want.) I’m in the prime of my career, as a subeditor or a web editor, in an airy, sunny open plan office. I work in a friendly, supportive team and regularly have lunch with coworkers (Pretty much bang on)
5. As you head out to face the day, how do you look? What are you wearing? I look polished and effortless (ha!) I am wearing nice jeans with a shirt and flats, because the office environment is fairly casual. (Okay, the first part was always a bit of wishful thinking, but again, bang on!)
6. How do you get to work? Walk (Oooh, this was true up until we went overseas, then came back and moved! Weird that I said this back then – to be honest, I don’t imagine I’ll ever be able to walk to work again in the future.)
7. When you’re done with work, how will you spend you spare time and with whom? What activities do you enjoy? With T. I’ll bake, catch up on blogs, watch some TV or a movie. I enjoy photography, playing guitar, travel. (Still into the books and movies and blogging. Other stuff, less so)
8. What is your evening like? I might catch up with friends at one of our houses for a few hours – lots of laughs, maybe a silly retro boardgame, good food. (I’ll be honest – I remember writing that and thinking that in all truth, I’d rather just chill at home, but was a bit reluctant to admit it. And that’s usually how it does go.)
9. When you go to bed that night, how are you feeling after spending the day doing exactly what you love? Contented and fulfilled. Glad that it’s nearly the weekend. (Yep, life’s pretty good.)
10. What are you most grateful for and what are you looking forward to as you go to sleep? T, a warm house, great job and good food. (Ditto.)
How does your life match up with your ambitions from five years ago?
This week’s links
WORK/CAREER
A sobering tale of freelancing and the strange state of media today (I felt rather guilty upon reading the quote describing the freelancer/editor relationship, but it is on the money)
Over at Get Rich Slowly: Overwork and the illusion of high paying jobs
A most excellent and comprehensive guide to career planning and progression, over at Fast Company
Mashable lists 10 questions to ask if you’re interviewing for a startup job
This Toast essay on making art and failing is equal parts beautiful and painful
MONEY
The Simple Dollar realises that poverty is not a simple problem to solve
Well Heeled Blog reflects on the things she used to think she needed
Tiny Apartment Design on being surrounded by rich people
LIFE, etc
Michelle from Fit is the New Poor used Taskrabbit help to pull off a birthday surprise for her husband (the first I’ve ever heard of anyone using the site that way!)
Some things you probably didn’t know about Japanese food, from Ever in Transit
Untemplater shares her best hard-learned travel tips
A few clever ways to preserve your travel memories, via Yes and Yes
Oh good, I’m not the only one out there who only washes my bras every few weeks - thanks Corporette. How about you? (DON’T JUDGE ME!)