Written on 10/4/2023 I am exhausted by my day job. Sometimes it helps to read works that name what I’m feeling. I recently ran into Karl Marx’s theory on how workers within a capitalist system can feel a sense of alienation. There are many facets of this theory, but the one that spoke to me was the part about how one can be wrenched away from the life they truly want to lead, because they are forced to work meaningless jobs in order to make money to survive. These feelings of alienation have been dragging me down for years, since I had to quit bird field work and get a steady job with benefits. It should come as no surprise when I say that working in customer service isn’t fulfilling for me. It just pays the bills, and gives me a little extra left over to go out birding on the weekends. This week, I needed more of a break than birding locally, and reading thoughts that validated my sentiment, so I took the opportunity to head to the end-of-year party at the Rio Mesa Research Station, which is located in the thick of the red rock desert near Moab, Utah. I’d attend the first of two nights, spending Friday out there, and coming back early Saturday.
Great post and agreed on the struggle between a corporate job and the need to go birding or just being in Nature. It's all I think about Monday - Friday: how much Nature can I get in before the next week starts. If I have only one regret, it's that I didn't start birding and generally appreciating Nature decades earlier.
Lovely. As you know I have struggled with various health issues that comes with my age and genetics, but, the best thing about my age, is that I'm pretty close to retirement. I'm 62 and hope to retire at 65. I, too, am so tired of corporate America. I look forward to the freedom when I retire. I am so glad that you have birding and the love for the desert to tide you over as you do the necessary keeping a roof over your head and all the other annoying adulting stuff.
Great post and agreed on the struggle between a corporate job and the need to go birding or just being in Nature. It's all I think about Monday - Friday: how much Nature can I get in before the next week starts. If I have only one regret, it's that I didn't start birding and generally appreciating Nature decades earlier.
Lovely. As you know I have struggled with various health issues that comes with my age and genetics, but, the best thing about my age, is that I'm pretty close to retirement. I'm 62 and hope to retire at 65. I, too, am so tired of corporate America. I look forward to the freedom when I retire. I am so glad that you have birding and the love for the desert to tide you over as you do the necessary keeping a roof over your head and all the other annoying adulting stuff.