Congratulations! That must be a great feeling to not HAVE to get up and go to work every morning. I imagine it's a lot different to just be able to do it if you feel like it. Enjoy your retirement!
Thank you…!!!
Yes, it’s a great feeling, but I really wasn’t totally sure until yesterday’s revelation. We had savings before we sold our old home, and have even more after. Our old home was in a neighborhood referred to as the “Golden Triangle” (not like it sounds, as it’s decidedly middle class, but the location is considered prime for that area), in far northwest Austin, bordered on three sides by two main highways, and a main road. As a result, we got a good price for it.
I spent all those months, at home full-time, helping to take care of my terminally ill MIL, but had been applying to other architectural firms since she passed, on the morning of August 2nd.
I am sometimes still awakened by an early morning dream, in a slight panic, because of dreaming I’m late for work…old habits (not actually being late, but dreaming about it
) die hard…!!!!!
The problem I was running into was that I don’t have an architectural degree, or license. And, frankly, I’m no spring chicken, so I’m sure that has a lot to do with it, as well.
I had a vocational drafting class for 3 hours every morning (there was also a 3-hour afternoon class), my junior and senior years of high school.
I was hired by a firm, 3 months before I graduated from high school, to ink brochures for a local builder, in the evenings.
After I graduated, they asked me to stay on full-time.
I actually interviewed at the University of Texas School of Architecture at one point back then, but the 2 partners in that first firm (both registered architects - one educated at UT, the other at OU)
suggested that I not worry about it, as I was already producing work for them that was beyond their 4th year of architecture school…!!!!!
I could have been grandfathered into the ability to get my license years ago, based on my experience, but we were busy raising our kids at the time, and I never needed it with any of the architectural jobs I’ve ever had before.
I never had to fill out an application, provide a resume, etc., as everyone I ever worked for already knew me, so, as a result, I always got good offers…and counter offers…!!!
Anyway, I’m rambling, but I thought it might be appropriate to provide a bit of background/context.
And, again, thank you…!!!
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