I Like This Chunk of Work

I didn't have to, but I found myself agreeing to cover a facilitator-associate's 'night shift' at three focus group sessions over three nights. She fell sick, but she had done all the prep work. She just needed someone competent to deliver it. It's an easy three nights, and it pays nicely.

It isn't a particularly crazy week of deadlines in my bread and butter freelance projects, so I decided to do it. I do need to keep the brains active, sharpen my edge and see if I can still match the market demands. I didn't agree to these 'night shifts' out of ego lah! But since the organizers/clients welcomed me to join in the group facilitation for these sessions, I really didn't mind. After all, nobody ever minded more (legitimate) income. This decision might also have been pushed by the fact that my annual medical insurance coverage increased (age bracket lah), and last week, I literally just paid a bomb in premiums.

As it is, my hours are pretty flexible, and since I'm willing to put in these hours at work, then I might as well do it if I have a window. How much I earn is directly proportionate to how hard I work. I earn enough to pay all my bills, spend on whatever I want to, and on Choya. Yes, I have to pay taxes. I'm comfortable. I'm thankful for that.

With this freelance gig that has sort of organically developed and trundled along for the past decade without me having to schmooze much, I'm very pleased. This means that the classic concept of retirement from a job doesn't apply to me. I probably can do this for another 6-8 years. It could be more, but we'll have to see what the market says.

As I near 50 years old, of course I wonder what this freelance gig would become, and how the projects might dry up. That's not my worry. One must diversify income streams. When I have no children's trust funds and medical insurance to consider; if I haven't done my Math and financial planning by this age, I'm not much of a competent human living in an urban city, am I? 

The worry is — I need to have a think if my sense of self is also shaped by my work identity. That is the thing. I'm not obligated to offices and the social circles of colleagues and the peripheral matters like that. Well, I've never really bothered about 'belonging' to any office. While I like the administrative and tech support that an office provides, I don't like anything else about it. Synergy, dynamism, buzz and all that, sure. But I do not like the politicking. However, I'm not immune to the saying 'work keeps one relevant to society'. 

One day, the projects will dry up. When that day comes, I don't know if I could swallow that realization graciously. I'd need to find something else (on top of my charity projects) to do on a regular basis to maintain the mental sharpness. Intellectual skills need to be constantly honed.