Good-bye Job, Hello Leisure Girl?

The rumours you may have heard are true--I have now left my position as library manager at my law firm.

The decision was not easy. Nor was leaving, which is why I have not blogged about it here up until now. As with anything, there is no one reason why I made this decision. But probably the biggest was that I had been in the same position for 10 years (almost 19 years in law firm libraries all together!) and needed a change. Other interesting-sounding positions have come and gone, but there were just none that completely suited me. What to do?

As with other things I seem to have done as of late, I decided to make my own path. Or--more like my style--follow in the footsteps of a few daring people who have gone before me. I am trying my hand at the wilds of self-employment. First up will be developing more courses for the Professional Learning Centre at the Faculty of Information Studies at the University of Toronto. Next will be finding a way to take my existing survey course and "kick it up a notch." I have been accepting other offers to teach as well. In addition to this, I will be looking for consulting work. I have one or two things in the wings already. Exciting times ahead.

My plan is to sleep--3 weeks or 3 months, we'll see how long it take to decompress!--then to work on something of a business plan to focus things down a bit. Really, my interests are quite varied so it will be a challenge to find a focus. Ultimately, I am hoping for variety of experience to both keep me interested and help develop my skills so I can help all of you in your projects.

Tonight I was out with friends to celebrate "no more workin' for da MAN!" when a fellow at the next table started talking to us. He told me he had taken 2 years (!) off from work to lead a life of leisure. His advice to me is to lunch often with friends, and do drinks Friday evenings (after the massage, of course) to stay connected but also make everyone so very jealous. Apparently he gained the well-deserved nickname "Leisure Boy" during that time period. And he dared me to carry the torch with the persona of "Leisure Girl".

Perhaps I will become Leisure Girl for a time, but to be very honest I get bored easily. Which is why I always seem to be doing so many things. Much as I love vegging in front of the TV, I usually have macbook on my lap at the same time or at least a sudoku on the go while watching.

Now, the side benefit of the new life of Leisure Girl is that I should have a little more time to write on this blog and maybe--after 4 years--take it in something of a new direction. I have lots of ideas forming in that regard, most in the area of redesigning the look, but we'll see.

I see this as entering a new era of learning and creativity. These are things that are constantly with me, and it is nice to have the luxury to finally give them room to breathe and develop in their own right after so many years of office work.

I am going to miss my firm terribly (it will always be "my firm" I think, just as articling students who I have taught will always be "my students"). It really has been my main home all these years. I honestly think they are entering an exciting new phase in their development, and I will be one of the firm's biggest fans. I'm also hoping to drop by the office now and then, to make sure they are still working hard and to perhaps make them a wee bit jealous. In the fine new tradition of Leisure Girl, of course!

Cheers,
Connie