Today was a pretty normal day.  I got up, went on NS, watered the lawn, went on NS, ate lunch, went on NS and then went and lifeguarded for 5 hours.  It's my neighbor's 40th birthday today, so by the time I got back at 7 her party was in full swing.  The DJ was loud, everyone was drinking, and none of my friends were there, so I sat near my parents and listened in on their conversation with my nextdoor neighbors, one of whom works as a construction engineer sort of guy.

Eventually I got into the conversation.  I had worked at an architectural firm this summer, so they asked me about that.  He related it to his firm and how they had to work together to bring a project to completion.  He talked to me about his scut-work, his timeframe, his budget, his employees, everything. 

"A construction firm comes into the game late," he says.  "The architects and town and owners have 2 to 3 years to figure things out, but the construction guys have to get in there and get to work.  Its a high stress, fast pace job."

My dad then asks him, "You like that kind of work?  Always working, never stopping?"  And my neighbor replied, "Mmhmm.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I'm a workaholic, so without my wife and daughter I'd work nonstop.  I'm really lucky to have been able to find the perfect balance."

He went on to talk about how he knew what he wanted from the beginning, how his wife (then girlfriend) would sit with him as he would dig pools on Sundays because he wanted to get things done.  Throughout the whole conversation he was light and relaxed, and seemed very, very happy

"Ever since I was thirteen," he says, "I wanted to build a bridge and a subdivision.  I've done both."  I asked him, "so you've achieved your life goals?" and he replied, "most definitely!  I have a great job and I love what I do, and every day I come home to my beautiful wife and daughter..."

Watching him look back on his life with no regrets and great memories gave me hope for the future.  I don't know what the hell I want to do yet, but I hope it will be as fulfilling to me as he finds his work.  Its refreshing to see someone truly happy with their life and be excited to go to work each and every day.  I wish that when the day comes that I need to choose a career it will be one that makes me happy and excites me no matter how old it seems to get. 

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I've never done a blog before, so I thought that'd be a good place to start.  I'm not sure if anyone is going to read this, but if you do, thank you, and hopefully you take something from it like I took something from my conversation with my neighbor.

Peace!

:)