Plan Z.

Yesterday I found out that I did not get into Wisconsin which has caused a total rework of my plan. I'm probably working on plan Z at this point. What now? in Grade school it was marine biology, in high school it was jungle research scientist. In College: Botanist. Grad school: Landscape architect and restoration ecologist. Now: restoration ecologist for the National Park Service, and more specifically a job that allows me to get outside and work with the land, a job that challenges me, a job that allows me to work with amazing people. I'm having a hard time finding all of those things in one place. I suppose I just have high standards.


I'm feeling a pressing need to figure out what I'm doing with my life right now. I don't know if it is the impending 30th birthday, or just a desire to get out of here and settle down enough to see my garden through an entire season, watch my fruit trees grow, get to know some ground. Where will we be (geographically) in 5 years?

Should I start as a volunteer with the national park service? But how does one justify moving all over the country for work that doesn't pay, when I already can't afford my bills? How do you get in with the federal government if at first you have to volunteer? How do you decide to move somewhere when what I want to do has to do with working outside in the wilderness and what Andrew wants to do requires living in or near a city? So many questions bogging down my mind that I am unable to do anything more than search the Peace Corps website and USA Jobs for possibilities. How do we make this work? How can we get out of this place? How do I buy my dream farm with chickens and a jersey milk cow and my dog and a garden? Bog bog bog.