I've been ruined

During lunch today this graduate student walks into the preserve to write on the blackboard that there will be an opportunity to hang out with the seminar speaker for this week. She's very animated and goes on and on about how this guy is so fabulous, etc. And I'm thinking, nope. I have no desire whatsoever to hang out with this man. Not just him, but any biology big-wig. Even Darwin himself. Well, that may be a bit of an overstatement. I'd be cool with hanging out with him. I'd probably find him boring though. Who wouldn't I find boring? I feel like the answer to that question may lead me to my correct career path. Or I could just be crazy.

Then on Saturday Chris and I hiked to the top of Mt. Pisgah. But did I enjoy it like I used to enjoy hiking? Nope. My desire to hike has waned considerably. What would I rather spend my days doing? Again, the answer to that question may part the heavens. I'd say, oh but you wouldn't make any money doing what you're really passionate about (which is _?_). But then I realize, you're not making any money in biology either!!

What's up? Like the youtube David after the dentist...will I be like this forever?? Or is it a phase I'm going through because of my research? It's like I got my lifetime's fill of hiking when I was collecting data and I'd rather rub jalepenos in my eyes than hit the trails again. Funny thing when my bucket list included 'hike the entire AT' and 'hike the Grand Canyon'.

So where does that leave me? It keeps me from applying to any field biology job (my original career goal) that's for sure. Perhaps I haven't found the "right" field work yet? I did love the river work I did in NM and that certainly was field work.

My aunt seems to think I should become a dog trainer. All good and well except there's no training facilities around for me to get started. I've thought about working at a zoo (even though I question the practice of keeping caged animals), but alas, there's none around. Perhaps I should become a professional protester for PETA. JUST KIDDING! I don't like PETA (seriously).

So as I read back over this post, it sounds like these are two possible answers to my woes:

#1 The unemployed get jobs that in turn help boost the economy so that the housing market becomes a seller's market again so that I can move out of Sylva and explore different careers.

#2 My fiance get a promotion so that I don't have to work.