things to do in Dublin when you're idle

[waider]

It's the last of the July, which means I've now been unemployed for a full month. This isn't quite as surprising as it might appear at first glance; beyond attempts at two high-profile companies, and a brief unhappy flirtation with an agency, I haven't really been trying to find new work.

One thing that's been bouncing around my head for the last month is to do something completely different. I'm not simply talking about getting out of computers and into, oh, basket-weaving; more contemplating liquidating what I've got and getting out of Dublin, maybe even out of Ireland, and finding something else somewhere else. It could well turn out to be computers in a different county or a different country, since whatever else I can say for myself, I'm good with computers. The "sell up and leave" aspect opens up more possibilities than anything else, since it removes concerns about rent and that sort of thing. And the things keeping me where I am right now are largely inertia and a good pub.

I'm not looking at this with rose-tinted glasses, mind. I went through this dance several years ago, and ultimately discarded all the options and stayed in Dublin, but back then I at least had a larger social circle to keep me occupied. Since then, most of that circle has dissipated for one reason or another; my closest connection from that group is several hundred miles and at least one timezone away. I guess the bottom line is that I may never have quite this level of detachment again (or I'd like to think that, anyway) so I should maybe grab it while I have the chance. I guess I'll stack it on the thinking pile for now, though.

Comments

[zadcat.livejournal.com]

Oh boy. I'd better visit soon then.

[ikkyu2.livejournal.com]

I would be delighted to learn that I was not the last poor sucker to join the t.b exodus to the Bay Area.

If you want to visit here and try to find something, you are welcome to my couch for as long as you like.

[waider.livejournal.com]

Ah now. You've not been paying attention. America's about the last place in the world I'd consider moving to.

[tongodeon.livejournal.com]

Japan, my friend. Japan. Best country ever.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

... FOR ME TO POOP ON!

[boutell.livejournal.com]

Buy a pub.

[eejitalmuppet.livejournal.com]

A cyberpub, so you can be sysadmin and barman. After all, since the smoking ban Dubliners need something else to do with their hands...

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Hmm, but isn't Dublin a happening place now, a burgeoning mecca of tech jobs? Or has this been exaggerated?

[waider.livejournal.com]

Handwave and shrug. There are indeed plenty tech jobs here. I dunno about mecca, but we've got ebay, amazon, google, microsoft, sun, ibm, oracle to name but a few. The point is that I'm not sure I want one of them, but it's pretty much my only option if I want to maintain my current residence/cost-of-living.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Gotcha.

[eejitalmuppet.livejournal.com]

In a more serious response, I've been wondering about getting out of chemistry. The problem, for me, is working out what I would run to, not what to run away from. That, and the suspicion that most of the restlessness stems from displeasure with myself: wherever I go, whatever I do, I can't escape being this person.

If you do decide to escape, I hope you find something, and somewhere that brings you happiness.

[waider.livejournal.com]

Well, thanks for the good wishes, and the same to you. Mostly I figure that if you look for me this time twelve months, I'll be here, doing this.