After what has felt like many years, but in real time has only been 3 years at my current job, I finally have paid vacation. 10 days per year, of glorious, pure, potential. As a person that used to chart her vacation time down to the hour in a budgeting spreadsheet, the reality of not having any paid vacation was quite horrifying. I had a flexible schedule, but besides taking a few hours here or there for an appointment or chore, I really had to stay put in my chair to keep the paycheck afloat. And that felt like the worst kind of 1st world problem I could think of.
Mike and I have bills to pay. We bought a house, and it needs fixing, and the adults are not around to pay for it anymore. Food for a big guy who works outside, gas to get to Seattle... We all have bills, right? I guess my bills are a lot more of my income these days, so the comfy slush fund and fully funded IRA of my 20's is gone for now. So taking off for a vacation without pay? Not gonna happen.
The problem was, I believe that my boss thought that I already had paid vacation, although I certainly did not. The terms of my employment had never been discussed, actually. Well, one thing led to another, and I was presented with an envelope containing a wonderful gift.
Obviously, I need to rev up my old spreadsheet and begin to dream again. Planes? Trains? Automobiles? Near, far, wherever you are? There are several things missing from my life, but this was one of them, and it feels so good to have it back.
