Celebration Fridays - Celebrating Downtime, Chosen or Not

It's Alan's last official day at the Theatre Green Room today. 

He's agreed to go in as they need him through the winter and has some other, sporadic work lined up.  I have the same arrangement with my employers, but mostly, we are Out Of Work. 

It feels a lot like the start of off-season from our B&B days.  Except, of course, that we don't actually have anything lined up for next season.  In terms of our careers, neither of us has a freakin' clue what comes next.  And with the general downturn in the economy, that should scare me.  A lot.  And sometimes it does, but mostly I feel like...

Have you ever been on a hike through the woods?  You walk and you walk and it always seems to be uphill and there are branches in your way and you don't know, really, what's up ahead and you start to feel a little claustrophobic because all you can see are trees and all you can do is take the next step and then all of a sudden you reach a clearing.

The trees fall away and you get this view.  Your lungs fill with air and you feel exhilarated.  For maybe just a few minutes, the whole world is yours.

That's kind of how this feels.  Because, for the last five years, we've been working really hard, looking after parents and settling estates.  Trying to launch a business.  And then another one.  And having to wind them up.  Moving waaay too many times.

Nothing but branches.  But now, there's a view.  And an enforced rest period.  I could worry about the money, or I could just enjoy my break. 

Guess which one I'm going to choose?