A little over two years ago, in one of my first posts, I wrote about the big decisions I had made to lead to my leaving home for what at the time was a one year assignment on the east coast. In reading that post, I am reminded of my uncertainty at the time as to how this adventure would turn out. I had rationalized needing to shake up my life a bit, and get out of the rut I had been in. I enjoyed my positions at the time, and it was a gamble that giving that up would end up being a net career positive, but I was willing to jump off the cliff and face what came.
Now here it is at the end of my time in DC. I have enjoyed my two years here much more than I ever could have imagined. Living the the heart of a vibrant urban environment has been an enjoyable change from living in a quiet suburban community. I have taken advantage of many of the cultural opportunities afforded by this location, seeing a couple of dozen plays and many museums and historical sites. I’ve also taken nearly 3000 pictures.
I think I am returning to my old life with more trepidation than when I unplugged my old life and came out here. I had to take a career risk, and I paid a big price in a personal relationship to do this. Despite initial anxiety about how it would impact my life, I found it to be a big step forward. It tore the blinders off my eyes as to the possibilities that are out there for me. Now going back is feeling a little like a step backward. They talk about “Potomac fever”, but for me it’s more a sense of recognizing that I’m not limited to just doing what I was doing before. Not only that, I’ve made a number of good friends, and the environment here makes socializing easier. It pains me to leave my new friends and my work colleagues behind.
With only a couple of weeks till I return, my return path at work is still somewhat uncertain, and we will see how it all turns out. I just need to make sure I actively pursue the things I’ve enjoyed here (even though it may take more work) and take advantage of what I’ve learned, and not slip back into my old rut.