Some milestones are converging, in my life and on HIVE. I don't know if any of them are majorly earth shattering, but they do have a higher level of importance to me at the moment, since I'm still standing at the income earning crossroads I mentioned a few weeks back.
I'll walk through the milestones, and sprinkle in some thoughts I've had about a potential direction to take with my work life.
HIVE
20,000 HP
I officially hit this mark yesterday, but then powered up some HIVE I brought over from STEEM, so now it's nearing 21,000 HP.
I made the rather insane goal (at the time) of reaching Orca-hood by the end of the year. While I'm still more than half the way off, I don't think I believed I'd be approaching quadruple dolphin status at this point, either.
I guess we never know what's in store, or still waiting to happen. Even so, it took some special, unforeseen circumstances to get this far, and it's not something I can control or count on. So, in the meantime, it's buy when I can and grind the rest.
STEEM Power Down Complete
I've still got 5 SP left in my STEEM account, but otherwise, everything else has been powered down. Seeing that does take me back to the beginning. Actually, worse than the very beginning because of the SP delegation that first week or so.
Those days, however, are in the rear view mirror, and for the most part, I'm more than happy to keep it that way.
14,000 Comments And Posts
According to HIVEStats, I eclipsed that mark sometime within the last 24 hours, too. Most of that number refers to comments, which have been dropping off for quite some time, so I'm feeling fortunate that I managed to even get things that high, since I know there are quite a few others who have gone well beyond 14,000 with their combined efforts.
I could dwell on that, or I could just say—it is what it is, we all do what we can do, and really, the only competition, if there is one to be had, is between last month's me and this month's me. I think that's more than enough. I'm here to earn as much HIVE as I can with the time that I have and the resources and abilities at my disposal.
Life
First Year Anniversary
This isn't for HIVE. Right now, I'm nearly 2.5 years into that journey forever shared with STEEM. Instead, I refer to the fact that it was a year ago today that I started working for the coin and bill operated machines company I do now. Albeit, with a seven week layoff and some shorter work weeks thrown in.
It's important to note, however, because I've so far managed not to get myself fired, which I will chalk up to a good thing for now, and I still have some time during the week to figure out what I think I'm going to do over the next couple of years, while still making some kind of an income.
That, if our state doesn't plunge into lockdown again.
A Related Side Note
COVID-19 cases have spiked considerably since the phased opening and relaxing of some requirements have taken place. I doubt the protests we did have in the larger urban areas have helped, either, but we may not know the extent of that yet.
By official governor decree, anyone going into indoor public places within seven counties will be required to wear a mask, like it or not. I don't know how well that's going to go over. It just so happens that I work in at least three of them, and potentially a fourth, so I will comply for the sake of keeping my job for the time being. Fortunately, the county I live in is not one of the seven.
Back To Talking About Work
My first year anniversary is important if for nothing else other than the fact that now I can take a vacation. At least, I think I can, even though I didn't really work for almost two months.
At any rate, I'm supposed to have a week's worth of paid time leave now, which then doubles by this time next year and going forward. I didn't really have any plans to use it yet, but now it's looking like my wife and I will be accompanying my younger son's family back to South Carolina.
My son and I are supposed to drive a moving van and a car across country, while my wife, his wife and their two young ones fly. We'll get a few days head start. This is all contingent on the offer they put on a house being accepted. I don't know what the likelihood of that is, but being first time home buyers, they're already planning on being back there in 30 days.
It would be convenient for my wife, since she already has a week off scheduled the last part of July. At the time she put in for them six months ago, she didn't really have any plans for them either other than to just get away from work for a while. Who knows—maybe the cosmic tumblers are aligning. Since that kind of good fortune hasn't been happening all that often as of late, at least not as much as it used to, it would be nice if it did this time around, so my wife didn't get stuck by herself at home while the rest of us end up 3,000 miles away.
This will be the first time I've driven across the continental United States. The farthest east I've gone by car or bus is Salt Lake City, Utah. I'm told that's not really east. However, I have flown into Baltimore, Maryland and been to Washington, DC, so I know there's more after Salt Lake. Now, I'll get to see it. I may wish I were flying over it by the time its all said and done, simply because we're not really planning on stopping to check out the sights.
Father's Day, 2020
Father's Day is this Sunday.
I became a father way back near the end of 1989, not quite 31 years ago. Doing so has afforded me one of my greatest joys in life—bringing two sons into the world and helping them get to adulthood. While there was certainly some stress involved and some actions on my part that I would go back and change if I could, overall, I believe I got enough right.
Both are at the beginning of their chosen careers, but they're well on their way to forming their own families and being able to provide for their respective wife's and children's physical, emotional, educational, and I would add, spiritual needs. There are no guarantees in this life, but I believe they have enough of a foundation laid to keep things going in a good direction, whatever that direction may be.
I've Been A Grandfather For Three Years
My oldest grandchild recently turned three. Since she's the most mobile and the only one who can talk (and boy, does she know how), she's also the one I've been trying the hardest to build a relationship with. Just in time for her to take off to South Carolina.
Still, I wouldn't trade the time we've had her, her parents and her younger brother living in our home for anything in the world. Even with the too frequent and totally unnecessary clashes of ego and personality we've all managed to muster over the last few years.
I already know I'm going to miss them, even as I look forward to having just my wife and I again. It will be good for them to be back out on their own, especially for my son and daughter-in-law. Grandpa just needs to avoid thinking about the fact that their independence also means the grandkids won't be around to wake up to every morning.
I Turn 54
My birthday is coming up. While it's not a birthday that most people have on their radar, I'm not above highlighting the odd birthday year. In reality, I'm at the stage where not getting any younger is more in my face than it ever was before, especially since I feel it every day.
Because I'm at a crossroads with regards to what I want to do about making a living, my age increasingly comes into play. There's only so many chances to change careers before I'm no longer considered employable. Even though I'm not really wanting to work for someone else, the reality is, trying to get something started with no money and thus not much time every week to do it in is slim. I know what it takes to get a business going, even an established one, so it's not the most viable option. Especially since my wife isn't keen on the idea at all.
As it is, she wants me to go back to school and do something with computers. She doesn't know that much about them, but she thinks I do. As it is, I do know some things, but whether any of that knowledge would get me in the door somewhere, I don't know. However, I've been investigating doing some online courses to get a degree in something computer related, which I can then hopefully, within short order, do from home. Which means, most likely, I'm looking at some level of programming.
I've done a little bit of mobile app development in the past, through some other online courses I took and a couple of my own unfinished projects, but that's it. Enough to know that I kind of like it and can sort of do it. There is certainly some creativity involved with programming, and since I want that sort of outlet, I'm willing to see if I can make it work. That's still not much to go on, but unless something else comes along, that's what I'm leaning towards at this point. I'm mostly interested in getting in depth with Python, since it seems to be the hottest programming language right now. Or so I've read.
I Think That's It
It's certainly enough. Funny how different things can all converge like that within a tight window of time. Good things, too. I'd like to keep it that way for a while, if at all possible.
Onward and upward.
Image source—Pixabay