Two Jobs, Two Weeks

I used to pity people who worked two jobs. One job in the morning and another at night and/or the weekend. Now I'm one of those people. And I no longer pity them. I'm actually happy to have joined their ranks. Proving my theory that things often seem worse in the abstract than in fact.

Okay, I've only been at this for two weeks so I can't really compare with those that do it year after year. But so far I feel refreshed and invigorated and grateful. I love the feeling of solid work. So little time for luxurious frolic or idleness that the littlest taste of a night at the theater or dinner with friends feels like sheer joy.

I don't need to work two jobs. One is more than adequate to pay the bills. But when an inspired whim led me to the doorstep of Huru International, an NGO doing work in Kenya, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. My evenings were already committed at Circle in the Square so when Lorna said, "Can you start Monday?," replying in the affirmative meant I was signing on for 12 and 13 hour days. This was not what I had in mind when I left the law office with dreams of part-time dancing in my head.

To my utter surprise, I don't want it to stop. I'm loving the day job. It's intense and focused and demanding. All the things I love in a job. And I don't want to give up the theater. It's refreshing and relaxed and responsibility-lite. All the things I'm embracing about this phase of my mid-life choices. So when the announcement of the closing of The Miracle Worker hit the papers, I sighed and thought, "It's probably for the best. I could use a break." Then two days later I was offered regular work at La Cage Aux Folles and snapped up the opportunity.

"What's up with me?" I wondered, "What happened to my desire for a simple, responsibility-free life?"  But now I see. I don't mind the responsibility as long as I have some control over my time. Both jobs have been informed that I'll be out of town for three weeks in May. And it's fine. And when I announce that I'll be away for two weeks in July, that'll be fine, too. I have the freedom to pick and choose when I'm there, and when I'm not. If my projects are caught up at Huru and I'm not needed for a few weeks, I'll gladly sit it out. If there's no work at the theater, I'll still have money to eat. I'm not stressed. It's all manageable. I'm in control of my time.

I've finally found the life I'm looking for. Work within walking distance. Honest work for honest pay. No strings attached. No long-term commitments. A day at a time. What you see is what you get. Life as cliche.