Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Detritus and Ruminations

Many bloggers post their random thoughts. It's my turn. Unfortunately for you, I'm no Otis. He manages to put his random musings together in such a way as to make it seem insightful and profound. In contrast, this will seem unfocused and will likely leave you feeling unsettled. It may cause a metallic taste in your mouth. You might even think you wet yourself. No, wait. That's what I tell patients who are about to receive IV contrast. In any event, you've been warned.

Tomorrow morning I will sign a contract to start my new job in California. It's very good money, even though it's a huge pay cut. There is almost no price I'd be willing to pay to be with my family, so I'm okay with the lower dollar figure. I'm certain it will be used against me in the argument about why I shouldn't buy a Ferrari, and that bothers me far more than it should.

It's not the perfect job, but it's damn good. I will only work 4 days a week and still get 6 weeks of vacation. No weekends and no call. Good, no great, people to work with who are really excited that I'm joining the team. Challenging work.

The downside is that I'm leaving a dream job, and a job I feel very comfortable with, for the unknown. I don't fear change. The military fixed that. I just try to live my life without regret, and I never want to regret leaving this job in Washington. I'm surrounded by good people who value my opinion. Just today I was talking with another radiologist. He makes the schedule and he was forced to make me double cover every day this week. I told him I didn't mind because I like being the "go-to" guy when things get tough. I take pride in that and I do it willingly.

The other negative is that, even though I'm closer to my family and will spend many more nights at home, I'll still have to get a place near the imaging center because it's 90 miles away from Palo Alto. It still kind of feels like I'm not all the way there. At least I don't have to go to the airport twice a week and deal with shitty flight attendants and the worst on-time record of any airline in forever. Damned Alaska Airlines.

I don't need sympathy. I don't need a pep talk. I know it's better because it's closer. I get all that. I just want it to be perfect. Is that too much to ask?

14 comments:

MHG said...

90 miles is like $5 of gas on a motorcycle. Just sayin'

bastinptc said...

It's a hike, but it's not a ramble. Understand completely.

John G. Hartness said...

As I sit here at my desk in my hotel room, I have to say "No, it's not too much to ask." I feel ya, bro.

PrinceofHouston said...

No airports period is a good thing.
That one aspect being removed from the equation makes this a good thing.
We spend too much time thinking about what we want, and dreams and goals are very good things, but we too often get wrapped up in wanting that we neglect the great things we already have.
I've done this too often.

KenP said...

I'm sure The Wife will be happy to be back to having three full-time kids instead of just two.

SirFWALGMan said...

Sounds like 1 day and less air travel better than what you have now... but ya, I agree, not perfect. Not even really ideal. Just better. So you prolly have a good right to be a little less than enthusiastic.

BWoP said...

LOL @KenP.

If life were perfect, you'd be bored out of your mind, right?

Unknown said...

Pep talk:

1. You have a good job in a horribly shitty economy.
2. It pays well, you only work four days and you get six weeks of vacation. You're almost BWoP!
3. It's somewhat close to your family. No, it's not ideal, but it's not a flight, either.
4. You can cover those 90 miles faster in a Ferrari. Just sayin.
5. The economy is really awful. You've earned the job with your good work, but now is not the time to be sad about getting a good job.

BamBam said...

So what you're saying is, our little pep talk on the way to the golf course ACTUALLY HAD SOME EFFECT!

Just need a moment or two here.....

Despite the downside, I still see the half full glass. I know you do too!

If it helps, (which I know it won't) congrats on getting everyone elses dream job and making a VERY good decision.

:)

Unknown said...

Sometimes life is what happens while we have other plans.

You made the right decision for now. Now continue making your wife and kids happy, everything else will happen if it needs to happen.

Bayne_S said...

North, East or South of Palo Alto?

Anonymous said...

Yes, "perfection" is too much to ask

genomeboy said...

my wife is an internist in a small (3 including herself) group practice. She leaves the house at 6:15am every day, and returns 11-12 hours later 4 days a week, the other day she gets home at 2-3pm. She takes call from home 2-3 nights a week, and one full weekend a month (rounding in the am both days).

After dinner and the kids are asleep, she logs in to the EMR system and reviews labs for 1-2 hours every night. By 9pm, she can barely keep her eyes open.

For all this, she gets 4 weeks of vacation, and her take home has gone down each of the past 2 years.

She wants to know where she can sign up for your gig, which likely pays about double what she makes.

Katitude said...

"There is no such thing as perfect. And if there was, it'd be boring after a week."
~Howard O. Goodale