That's a bit misleading, isn't it? It should really say that I was a member from 2011 through 2014, took five or so years off, and then on a whim decided to come back. It's been so long, that I feel like a new member again, needing to relearn all of the codes and customs of the site.
A lot has happened to me in the last five years. Five years ago, I was a fully employed art director/corporate marketing shill for a company that...wasn't good. I was a miserable man because if I did an excellent job at work, that meant helping to convince people who didn't know better to take out loans they couldn't afford and get an education that would get them a job that didn't pay enough to pay back the loans. If they finished school, that is (which most didn't). And if the employers treated the degree like it was worth something (which it wasn't). Of course, if I didn't do a good job, then I didn't feel any of the satisfaction of a job well done, and as a designer, sometimes that is a majority of your payment.
No wonder I was miserable. I had a choice between making the world a better place or using my skills to the best of my ability.
Luckily for me, though not necessarily for my coworkers, the company was being investigated for shady practices and fell on hard times. My department was eliminated, and I was free to start my new adventures. And boy did I. I landed, superhero pose style, in the world of freelancing and never looked back. Been running that business for five years now, and it is still going strong (eburkedesign.com if you want to check out my work).
I also started to get serious about my bourbon review site, bourbonguy.com, increasing traffic to the point that I could have directly monetized it if I had wanted. I don't want to because that site is a hobby. And I have a problem where if a hobby becomes a job, I don't want to do it anymore. Instead, I started an Etsy store. I felt like that would help me to exercise the more physical aspects of my artistic streak. I used to make a lot of things out of bourbon barrels to sell on the store, but shipping costs got crazy on heavy wooden items, and I pumped the brakes on that. One of my goals this year is to get back on that and start selling them locally instead.
I also accidentally started a dog sitting business. I wanted a new pup since I was working from home. My wife didn't like the idea of a third dog in the house, and she suggested maybe watching one or two through Rover to scratch the "new dog" itch. Well, I love dog sitting! It is by far the best job I've ever had. It is so much more rewarding than making advertisements or billboards or junk mail. If you are in the Southern Twin Cities and need dog sitting, check me out.
Of course, the last five years haven't been just working. During that time, I finally got a handle on my depression and anxiety. Being out of a toxic workplace and introducing a ton of loving dogs didn't hurt that process. But I got my meds dialed in, and things are going good. Only a few down days a year, which is a giant situational improvement over a few down days a week and panic attacks. It feels good to feel good. I never realized how much I struggled until I wasn't struggling anymore.
I also came out as bisexual/pansexual (I use them interchangeably since I'm basically attracted to everybody). Not that it changed much in my life. I'm still firmly devoted to my wife of 22 years and wouldn't cheat on her with a guy any more than I would with a girl. And honestly, even if she was open to it, I'm way too lazy to try to find someone else to play with. The best part of marriage is not having to date. I can't imagine voluntarily trying that again. That said, it feels great to acknowledge a part of me that I firmly ignored for over 30 years.
So that's me and where I'm at in a nutshell. Hope to talk to you soon.
