I’ve got the house to myself. I would say that is just how I like it, but that’s not always the case. I wonder if all parents secretly wish their kids were at home just so they knew where they were and that they were okay. I have one in Detroit (visiting friends) and one in Gothenburg (took the day off to go to Liseberg amusement park…and drove the Tesla there). Anders is on an overnight trip with work…with his NEW JOB.
I think what I like is that 1) it’s quiet and 2) it’s clean and 3) I can do whatever I want, which so far, since I got home from work, has meant going for a walk, reading, checking emails, answering questions from a new AIC member, having dinner, emptying the recyclables, washing dishes, updating my family tree with changes from a cousin, and now: writing this post. After this, I will either read some more, because I’m really enjoying my book (a space opera take on Jane Eyre) or watch one of the movies that no one else ever wants to see. Or possibly play on my blog. I’m working from home tomorrow, which is the best kind of Friday. Might possibly get together tomorrow evening with Camilla and Debbie (who just got back from a month away).
We have a busy weekend ahead of us, with a belated birthday outing for Anders from our friends Mats and Annelott on Saturday and dinner with Anders’ sister on Sunday.
Anders just signed his contract yesterday for the new job. Still at Tetra Pak, but completely different than what he’s been doing. He’s been working as a Technical Instructor in the Training Center since August 2007, almost exactly 15 years. Now he’s moving to the Field Service Engineer group and will be working with automation issues for customers in southern Sweden (and sometimes in Denmark, when needed). He’s really pleased and excited about the change. Tonight’s overnight trip is an intro even though he doesn’t officially start until September 1st.
I’ve been at my job and my company for nearly 18 years (in October), though my title did change when I was promoted in 2014 to Senior instead of just regular-old Corporate Graphic Designer. I was only at Ericsson for 4.5 years, First Chicago for 6, and WRP Advertising for 3.5. But Anders has been working at Tetra Pak pretty much since he was 16 (summer job), despite taking 2 years off to work for ABB. With a new job now, it looks like he’ll be retiring from Tetra Pak when he hits retirement age, in just 5 or so years…a true lifer!
I found my resumé the other day, the one I used when I applied at my current company (even though my role has changed and grown). I actually can’t remember, but I think I started at Axis as a Marketing Coordinator. I can’t remember when my role/title changed to Graphic Designer but I was already referring to myself that way in my blog after only a year. So, if I did, then I’ve changed titles twice at this company. But I haven’t updated my resumé for 18 years. Crazy. And I, like my husband, will probably retire at my current company, when it comes time (though I have a few more to go than he does). Lifer, indeed.
Now, I’m posting this, and then I’m off to read or watch a movie. It just poured rain and got very windy and cold, but the clouds are moving on and there’s blue sky behind them.
*George Eliot
Mood: quiet and proud
Music: He is We—Happily Ever After
i worked at one bank for 17 years before it was sold. two years at an energy trading company and then 18 years at another bank / brokerage firm before i retired last summer. my husband worked at the school district for 26 years before he retired at the end of 2010. are we the last generation to stay at one employer that long?
Hard to say. I suspect so, but I haven’t seen any studies or articles about it. I think it’s actually fairly unusual in our generation, too. I don’t know very many people my age who have stayed at one job as long as Anders or I have. Most people move around more frequently, I would guess, even if it’s not short hops. My kids are too young to count…I changed jobs quite often when I was their age, it wasn’t until I was out of college that I stayed longer than a couple of years at any one job.
On the job longevity thing, I’ve been thinking a lot about this. The older I got, the more envious I was of people who took the dull, repetitive jobs with civil service or just some stable company (this applies to teachers, too, although their work isn’t what I’d describe as dull). Being self-employed virtually my entire adult life, at the end of the road it was obvious that the way most of us made money was not the point of our lives. I imagined it would be real nice to have a pension and adequate retirement waiting for me.
But three of those civil servant types died, two of them literally at their desks, before that paid off. There are plenty of downsides to working alone and from home, but I got up in the morning and went to work when I wanted to. I feel OK about that now, even with no money to speak of. Pretty, pretty OK.
Everything is relative, especially when it comes to jobs and job satisfaction. I guess it balances out, for the most part. 🙂
It sounds like the companies you both have found jobs with are good ones. Congratulations to Anders!
That’s for sure!
“Could I have been anyone other than me?”
-Dave Matthews
No. No, you could not.
-Lizardek
So glad for Anders -sounds perfect! I can’t answer for anything on jobs – as I seldom worked over the years. But happy is important when working for a company.
You worked plenty, raising 3 kids and dealing with dad and all those moves!