"So... What Do You Do?"

Hmm... good question.

That is of course the question you always get when you move somewhere new.  Always tentative, hesitant, not really sure if they are asking the right thing, "So... what do you do?"

Boy, that is a difficult one for me this move.  Mostly because of my own uncertainty.  What do I tell them?  Which of my part time jobs and projects do I mention?

I teach an astronomy class online through Northern Virginia Community College (and I love it!).  It gives me a chance to share the fascinating big-picture parts of astronomy with students of all ages and interests, some degree-seeking, some not.  Obviously online teaching is not ideal, I would much rather teach in person, but this is a job that I can continue no matter where or when we move.  And if motivated and interested, people really do learn in an online class.  I find teaching to be hugely rewarding and satisfying (though adjunct faculty at a community college might as well be volunteer work as it definitely does not pay enough to survive on).

I also paint.  I mostly do figures and landscapes in oil on canvas (and I love it!).  Painting is something that I have always enjoyed doing, and I have taken classes and commissioned jobs when the opportunities arose.  With each painting I do, I find myself planning a dozen more.  I am constantly growing and learning with each piece.  So sometimes I answer the difficult question of what I "do" with "I am an artist".  But not often, because I am now somewhere between the painting-as-a-hobby and professional-painter.  That weird in-between phase where it feels a little funny saying this whole new career title and not mentioning my history with space and science.  (But don't worry, I have plans to combine the two in the future!)

And I am enjoying time at home with Calvin while he is young.  It makes pre-school drop-off and pick-up and days-off for holidays and illness so much easier if you are not juggling two parents' work schedules.  And I honestly just don't want to miss out on this unique part of our lives - Calvin will be our only child, so this is my only chance to have this job.  And I embrace it eagerly!

Calvin and I are on the metro, riding into DC for another exploring adventure.  July 25, 2014

Regardless, I had a hard time getting over the feeling when talking with other people that I needed to make up for my lack of a full-time job by rattling off my part time jobs and past experience like some sort of walking resume.  I guess I worried that people might secretly dismiss me as ordinary or boring or not liberated enough if I didn't explain.  But these were issues that I needed to deal with within myself.  Because despite the feelings of self-doubt and worry about career path mistakes and difficulty answering this simple question, despite the drudgery of housework and chores and errands, I am really very happy with what I do.

Who knows what my answer will be in the future.  For now, I am totally okay with my list.