I got a (‘nother) job! (and other updates)

At last! If you’ve been following along for awhile now, you know that I’ve been on a quest for meaningful work that’s part-time and work-from-anywhere … something where I still feel like I’m making a contribution to society while also giving us most of the income we need to live this dream. For the last 7 months, I’ve spent most mornings scrolling through job postings and agonizing over cover letters and my resume. I’ve applied for positions with two music festivals (and had to work through some feelings when I didn’t even get an interview with either one), and to other places as a grants administrator, nonprofit database manager, conference organizer, a travel agency assistant, accounting intern, and even transcriptionist. One intriguing position that I interviewed for but ultimately didn’t work out – database administrator for a nonprofit based in Colorado that works with communities in eastern Nepal to build schools, water systems, and other infrastructure.

(Intriguing position that I did NOT apply for but was fascinated by it’s existence: a Document Imaging Technician for webcemeteries . com, which is basically taking paper records on-site at cemeteries and scanning/uploading them to an online platform.)

But FINALLY, the stars seem to have aligned, and I am excited to announce I’ve been hired as a Search Specialist at On-Ramps, a search and consulting firm that supports nonprofit organizations and educational institutions with their executive-level hiring processes. In other words, when one of these entities needs a new Executive Director or other Director-level staff, they hire On-Ramps to help with recruiting/screening/interviewing candidates. I’ll have a supporting role in these processes – probably working on 2-4 searches at a time, managing candidate assessments and the logistics of the interview process. What excites me the most is their mission to help create social change across the sector by supporting these entities with a fair and equitable recruitment and hiring process. I start on June 1.

In the meantime, I’m still bartending on weekends, and I guess I’ll continue to do so as long as we’re here … or as long as I can stand it. It’s seriously kicking my butt! The tips are *really* good, though, and for the most part people are fun and nice. But most of my shifts have been so busy I hardly have time to go to the bathroom! And I am thoroughly exhausted by Sunday night. We have a lot of regulars who I’m getting to know, which is helping me get to know this whole area better. Sunday afternoons are a big time for a group of folks to come in and drink light beer. Here’s what that looks like:

Let’s see, in other updates: While Matthew was in Alaska last month, I made a quick trip home to Iowa to see my dad and my dear high school friends, Sarah and Bridget. Sarah has been in a brutal battle against cancer for the last several years: in and out of trial treatment after trial treatment, on a constant roller coaster of hope and dismay. It was so wonderful to have a couple of dedicated days with these two amazing women … and, of course, it’s always awesome to have time with my dear Dad!

Throughout it all, life here in Mathews County has been really lovely. Spring has been beautiful (even if it was a bit on the chillier side for longer than usual), and it’s great to have so much time with Matthew’s parents. We’re REALLY grateful to them for sharing their home with us for these months, and we’re trying to pay our rent by helping with various projects around the property. Here’s a few more snaps of life around Cobbs Creek. Thanks for reading!