Made it back to ADL on Tuesday night after a 4 week stint in Sydney. Been a bit of a whirlwind between personal projects, catching up with people down here, continuing to explore options for work and for subletting my unit down here. Somehow, I've managed to fit in 2 trips to the gym and a White Card course! (Though I won't pretend the gym sessions were anything hardcore...)
So I'm slowly crawling my way back to a more normal routine, and I've opened the door for contract work in the construction industry. I do not have trade certs, but I know that with my Navy engineering background, I can pick up most things pretty quickly. I went to a metalworking 'jobbing shop' today to meet a friend of a friend, and it brought back memories of my time in the Navy, when the other officers-in-training and I muddled our way through learning to use lathes, mills etc. It was so fun! There may be potential for some work there, so we'll see.
The solitude since being back in Adelaide has been a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's disquieting to be alone after being around people for so long. On the other, that disquiet is a reminder that I need to be more intentional about reaching out to people. It's also good to be alone with my thoughts, to reflect on the past few months and what I want to do next. It aids the decision-making process, and I think I need to keep seeking out that time.
Personal projects still abound, and I'm trying to balance them with the need to find work. I have a few ideas for some new projects, but I need to focus on one at a time. I also need to get back into the habit of writing more regularly, both for my own sake and for this page. I think I need to set aside some time each day to write, even if it's just a few paragraphs. I want to keep this page updated, and I want to keep improving my writing skills. It's also LONG SINCE OVERDUE that I put my fears of both failure and success aside and publish work that I care about. Whether one person reads it or a thousand, I need to get it out there.
This page now has a member's area, which is a new feature I'm testing out. It's a way for me to share more personal updates and content with people who are interested. If you're reading this, you probably already know about it, but if not, sign up to get access! It's a work in progress, but it has potential if I keep showing up.
I'm gonna release some open source software soon, which is something I've been wanting to do for a while. I'm not sure which yet, but I have a few ideas. I'm also going to curate some poetry and journal entries from the past few months and share them on this page. I think it will be a good way to reflect and invite others to reflect on their own experiences, as well as discuss the themes that come up. I want to keep this page a place for exploration and growth, both for myself and for anyone who reads it.