S. Worthen | Weblog

I must admit, even now I've ended up as a Postdoc over here I'm still not entirely sure what I want to do with my life. I seem to have gone along going 'that looks interesting' and headed in that direction for a while. I did the PhD because the subject matter was cool and because industry appeared boring, and I still find it interesting even though I'm now off doing something thats about half a foot to the left.

An overall rough aim, 'I'd like such'n'such a lifestyle', or 'I want have done X by the time I retire' is probably a good way to find some kind of happiness with what you do. I only found out a few months ago that this was the philosophy my dad had been using for years! I always thought he had eveything well planned, and based what I should do on what he'd done. Then, when I strike out on my own, I found I was doing what he actually did, and he was very supportive and understanding of why I needed to do it.
i.e. trading off pensions, 'the housing chain', etc. and a bog-standard lifestyle to go and experience other things.
As I said to a PhD candidate who was here on Friday, without the PhD, I wouldn't be here. I wasn't why I did it, but it was really good bonus (reward :o)).