Yeah! I'm here early this time and happy this thread is underway! Welcome to all the newbies and new comers.
This is my big "move out" weekend back in Chicago. I've had a couple of monumental days with the Craigslist scene the last few days, and it's gone great. Which, conversely, leaves me working and living in an apartment that's nearly empty of furniture for the next 5 days! But I still have a couch, a bed, and a laptop and frankly that's all I need. I am working online for my company from 7am-4pm daily as well. Lots of stuff happening. It's been an interesting "trip" so far. Hectic. Moving is stressful, especially doing it on my own.
I've also had some chance to visit with old friends...it's amazing to see how scheduled they all are. So attached to specific time frames. I have been asked for coffee and/or dinner, and have met up with a few people. The conversations about meeting up have gone like this:
Friend: "Hey Sam, I hear you're in town for a few days! Let's meet up for coffee!"
Me: "Sounds great, how about I call you this weekend?"
Friend: "Cool. I might have a work engagement this afternoon. But, I am free from 1pm-2pm on Friday, or from 10am-11am on Saturday. I can also possibly do a 5pm-6pm on Monday. Let me know and I'll schedule you in."
Okay, woah. I know my old friends are all in big business and have been in the rat race here for years, but I just don't operate like that anymore. These meet-ups are feeling more like "appointments" as opposed to just hanging out. I am not here to put on a suit and tie and zip around like the old businessman I used to be. I am here to take care of my move over a 1-week period. In a perfect world, I would be able to just call someone and they'd say "okay, see you in 20 minutes!". But I guess the lives of my friends just don't work that way anymore. Too much going on, I guess.
I think I need to focus on living the life I've worked so hard to achieve. That means not making everyone else happy, but keeping my own mental health and sobriety priority #1. Slow and steady works for me, and I'll keep that mantra going.
Glad to be here and happy weekend!