I didn't have great work boundaries after all
I was supposed to be a data analyst for a waste collection company, but since no one understood what I did (think Stu from What We Do in the Shadows), I was occasionally given a clipboard and thrown into trash trucks to do “route audits”. At first I didn’t mind the blatant change in my job description. Riding around in trash trucks all day was a surprisingly nice break from being a full-time desk jockey, even if you factor in the loud noises and raging UTIs.
I’d been back to working in my office for a few months when I learned that I’d be starting route audits again.
As an analyst, I woke up at 4:45 am to get to the South Bay around 6:15 am. Then, after sitting for eight hours, I’d make the 1.5 hour drive home.
Yesterday, I was supposed to wake up at 3:00 am to be south of the South Bay by 5:00 am to start the audit. Then, after sitting for nine hours, I’d make the two hour drive home. Then I would do it all over again for the next two months straight.
Instead, I auto-delivered an email to HR and my boss at 3:00 am telling them that I quit.
My real job should have been a remote position anyway. It was fun having my own office though, even if it was in the same building where trash gets dumped and sorted. And I guess it wasn’t so much an office as it was a small, windowless closet without ventilation, perpetual mystery leaks from the ceiling, and a sweet, musty smell that no amount of febreeze could cover. But at least it was MY windowless closet that forced my air purifier to automatically stay on the highest setting all day, and made my work clothes smell so bad I had to wash and store them separately.
By the way, the people sorting all of our trash may or may not be getting paid decently depending on the facility, but either way I guarantee you they don’t have good enough personal protective equipment like heavy duty masks and goggles. Those workers are breathing in toxins on top of toxins, day in and day out. That’s not meant to be a guilt trip, it’s just the truth.
Since I only have to feed and shelter myself, I ultimately didn’t have to endure the early hours and literally toxic environment forever if I didn’t want to. This probably still wasn’t the best time to give up a steady income, but when would have been? I’ve been stalling for twenty years for the “best time” to do a ton of things I’ve always wanted to do, and guess what? I just spent two decades aimlessly scraping by instead.
I have enough money to make my car payment and cover rent for the next four months, as long as I use a credit card for literally everything else. It’s time to finally figure some shit out.