My Turf

I’ve started a new job recently. I don’t and won’t blog about my job for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I just don’t want to get into any kind of trouble with my employer for any reason. But there are some things I can talk about regarding a new job that don’t have to do with that job.

My previous job office was 15-17 minutes from my home. My new job office is 12-15 minutes from home. That’s good, but unfortunately, the new office is in the exact opposite direction from the area of town I’m used to. I’ve had the same general stomping grounds for several years, but now I’m off in a new area.

I’m having to learn what all is in my new turf, and that’s not easy to do. The only real time I have to explore is during lunch hour, because after work is family time. So for a couple days, now, I’ve driven around and looked and timed distances from the office to various locations.

Previously, I knew where all the restaurants and stores were around me, and I could drive to them with my eyes closed. Now, I’m lost. I only know well the road between home and work. There’s a lot of new construction going up in the area, but it’ll be a couple years or so before everything is complete. There’s a grocery store very near, but the closest department store (Target) is 20 minutes away. This same Target is just 10 minutes away, (and a Walmart is only 5 minutes away), from my old office.

I need a Target close by, a mall moderately near, a grocery store on the way home, and at least half a dozen restaurants (that I like) within a short drive. So far that I’ve discovered there’s a Target moderately near, and only two or three restaurants (that I like) within a short drive. I still have some exploring to do in the area, so I may discover a better arrangement in a direction I haven’t yet driven.

This whole area feels so foreign to me. But, it took a while to get used to the old area, several years ago. I’m sure I’ll come to think of this direction as homey, too, in a year or seven.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com