when i (re)cubeopolis'd more than 2 years ago

(repost from 09/23/2007)

i made a major decision to return to government back in september 2007 ...

and with this very unexpected, unplanned, unimaginable (for some amongst my family & friends), and unbelievable change, i ponder - perspectives, thoughts, and just whatever about this change. this change simply goes as follows:

• started with the government near 20 yrs ago in jan '87 after graduating from college; left the government in july '88
• have since been in consulting and industry (public utility), spanning ~ 7 years
  
• have been a business owner since nov '94
• started up again with the government sept '07, with limits around any outside employment (conflicts and all - real and perceived/appearance)
  

here are a few thoughts just 2 WEEKS into my cubeopolis life back in late septebmer '07:

• authenticity & covering - i think about this more and more, lately. comments have been made - in passing, mostly - given some perspectives that one's profession defines one's values. perhaps that is the case for those afforded the ability to seek and for those with the desire to obtain a job that allows his/her expression of his/her values. conversely, for some, a job is simply a job - a set of duties, responsibilities, etc.
  
  • judgment
  • stereotyping/profiling
  • self-expression
  • mission/vision
  
  
• structure - the structure of a traditional 8-hour work day is very different from my prolonged weaving-in-and-out an 8-hour work day. in fact, i find the 8-hour tradition much more tiring effort, at least for the first week. that is, over the course of what appears a 12-14 hour work day with my own business, i extract the 6-8 + hours of billable (and/or non-billable) work amidst a yoga class, shopping, lunch, kickboxing, reading, power-napping, pedicure, whatever.
  
• body's natural rhythm
• authority
• cubicle existence

• business ownership undone - it is apples and oranges to compare the two. i know there are many-many-many books about the joys of leaving corporate america to pursue business ownership/self-employment. i'd like to see what
• civil service as a noble effort
• transferring & exchanging knowledge
• learning new things
  

• never say never - i did. look where i am now .. when i had once said i never would ever be once again.
  
• clichés may mean something
  

• social life unfolds - living in the suburb of union city and working in san francisco certainly will affect my social life. as i left on the voice mail message to my friend reggie on day 1 when i drove in to work with a few books and heavy items for my cubicle existence, "i am boy crazy! i dig that i'm at a stop light, so i can watch [the boys] cross the street."
• dating
• faves galore to explore - restaurants, stores, boutiques, galleries, events, parking lots, etc.
• reconnecting - lots of old friends work & live in the city

just naming a few for now