Comments on: Two weeks between jobs — what would you do?

By: Jessica B

Jessica B — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 12:49:06 +0000

I have literally just finished up at one job on Friday, and started another job two days later on the Monday. For me, that was not enough time to properly wind down from my last position, and prepare for my new position!
If I had been able to have two weeks off in between, I would have loved to take a few days right away to just rest and relax, and would have done some journaling about how I felt. I would have set aside some time to look more closely at information for the new job, and would have done a couple of trial runs to test the commute, and get familiar with the area.
I would have done a few projects at home that I just did not have the energy for before, like tidying up, some budget planning and meal planning, etc.
And I would have done a few weekday excursions, knowing I likely wouldn’t have a day off in a while, like going to my city’s museum and art gallery, and to a morning movie, maybe had a haircut, and probably seen my therapist too!
I think it’s great to have an idea for what you’d do with a gift of time like this, and there are certainly some great ideas in other comments here.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Sun, 30 May 2021 20:52:17 +0000

I am thinking about this question too, as I am currently on pre-birth maternity leave (it’s a generous thing where I live). The problem is, though, that so short before the birth, I am not as robust as I used to be so if I, say, go to a museum one day, that’s pretty much all I manage in the day. I agree that it is very easy to spend the time just doing housework (my partner says I never vacuum this much when I work). I made a calendar overview of the weeks left and try to schedule some anchor activities but as much preparation is still needed, it’s often not the most exciting leisure things but more like bureaucracy..

By: Joy

Joy — Fri, 28 May 2021 23:20:53 +0000

I think I’d do some things I’ve been wanting to do but usually don’t take off a day to do it. There are two botanical gardens an hour away that I’ve been wanting to visit; I want to do a research day at the Library of Virginia and one at the Library of Congress for a couple of writing projects; I want to do a 2 day trip to do some genealogy work in cemeteries and record offices where you have to be there (nothing online), and a trip to Montpelier which is less than an hour away but I never seem to make the time. If I scheduled a few half days to work on a writing or study project and then took a couple of trips a week, I would feel like I used the time well and would finally have checked off some things I really want to do but never make the time for.

By: Connie C

Connie C — Fri, 28 May 2021 22:49:35 +0000

In reply to BethC.. The Lucy Museum is very small but very worth it!

By: BethC.

BethC. — Fri, 28 May 2021 22:08:04 +0000

Sorry-museums in item aa should be magazines.

By: BethC.

BethC. — Fri, 28 May 2021 22:05:58 +0000

Thanks for mentioning the Cousins Lobster Roll truck! I live outside of Philadelphia, and I discovered that they have a truck parked at a Shoprite in my town on Saturdays. My partial list:
1. Five-day trip to the Outer Banks for a stay at my sister and BIL’s beach house. Have not seen them in almost a year due to Covid.
2. A three-week swing through the Finger Lakes and Western PA. to see pretty scenery, visit some wineries, hit the Ithaca Farmer’s market and Moosewood, and visit some museums. (Eastman in Rochester and Corning Glass are already on the list). The PA. portion will involve stays at a historic hotel and a historic lodge. I am also dragging my husband to the I Love Lucy Museum, since it is “only” an hour out of the way when we transit from our hotel on Keuka Lake to the Lodge at Glendorn in PA.
3. Grab a lobster roll from the Cousins truck at least once.
4. Do a bike trip along the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
5. Do a walk/hike through Estell Manor Park in Atlantic County, NJ.
6. Do a walk/hike through the Lumberton (NJ) Nature Trail.
7. Make plans to meet up with friends for lunch or a beach day twice a month-first one is booked for next week.
8. Go to a movie (if any come out that I want to see in person).
9. Get to the beach at least once every other week, weather permitting.
10. Make a dent in my ever-growing TBR pile on the nightstand.
11. Read the large pile of Atlantic Monthly museums that have accumulated. I have over a year’s worth-it will be an interesting historic exercise given the year that we have just had.
12.. Buy a new mattress-not exactly a fun pursuit, but ours is very saggy, so my future self will thank me.
13. Visit each of our favorite local ice cream spots at least once: Evergreen Dairy Bar, Maple Shade Custard, Daddy-O’s, Springer’s in Stone Harbor.
14. Go back to in-person dining in South Jersey and Philadelphia.

By: BethC.

BethC. — Fri, 28 May 2021 21:18:33 +0000

In reply to Gillian.

Gillian: Your mom and I could be twins! I am also a female lawyer who also started working part-time in order to transition into retirement. I’m going through the exact same thing-some days, I feel very productive, while others seem to fly by without much to show for my usage of time. I have had two main hurdles: (i) I don’t have set hours, so I still feel like I have to be available to my clients every day; (ii) the pandemic threw a huge monkey wrench into my plans. I semi-retired in March of last year (timing is everything!) with 5 trips booked for 2020 and 2021, as well as a long list of big and little adventures (cheap AMC movies on Tuesdays, monthly trips to Philadelphia and/or New York to explore different neighborhoods, among others). The trips and most of the adventures fell by the wayside during the pandemic. As things start opening up, I am planning on reviewing my original fun list and adding some of them to my week. In the past 6 months, I have also started taking online Zoom classes for adults over 50. They have been great anchors to my day-they typically run an hour or two. I put “No calls” in those time frames on my calendar. I find that the structure of having a class really helps. They are not terribly expensive, are offered at many schools around the country, and don’t require alumni status. I’m currently taking classes on flash memoir writing, Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musicals, cutting the cable cord, and the challenges faced by Black professionals during their careers. Some of them are recorded, so I can review at night if I can’t make a particular class, They are offered via the Osher Living Learning Institute. Here is a list: https://nrc.sps.northwestern.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/A-Directory-of-Lifelong-Learning-Institutes.pdf. Thanks for posting about your mom-it is good to know that I am not alone.

By: omdg

omdg — Fri, 28 May 2021 17:48:33 +0000

Sleep as much as I want
Exercise every day
Catch up on drs appointments, haircuts, general maintenance
Maybe visit my parents or a friend
Read one book

That’s my usual vacation list, come to think of it. Sometimes I get to travel, but often I do not.

By: Lori C

Lori C — Fri, 28 May 2021 16:18:48 +0000

In reply to Lori C. Chunks, not chicks:)

By: Lori C

Lori C — Fri, 28 May 2021 16:17:40 +0000

This is a wonderful problem to have! I would suggest breaking the two weeks up into chunks.

Assuming it’s two calendar weeks, could she squeeze in a long weekend away and allow the kids to miss a day of school? Perhaps even extend the trip for herself for one more day, and let her partner head back with the kids? A weeknight away seems short, but I’ve done it before by leaving after kids bedtime on day 1, then heading back in the late morning day 3 so I’m home when they get home from school. This isn’t a huge lift on the coparent as they really only have one weekday evening and morning to manage.

For the other “chunks” I would think of projects you can’t do when kids/partners are around, or ones that take a while. I’ve been dying to paint an old dresser for example but I’d really want two consecutive focused days to do this.

Other chicks might be an errand day, self care day, cleaning day, yard work day, or day to meet up with friends and family that you don’t see often.

Another idea is to make longer day trips you can’t typically swing. Maybe there’s an outlet mall 40 minutes away, or a park you want to hike, or cousin you could meet for dinner.

Enjoy the time!!!