conference time
It’s time for the giant national annual conference in my field of study. I’ve been every year since my first year as a student here, and I’m going again this year. Even though there are reasons to dislike the conference (too large and unmanageable, peer reviewing process is awful), I’m always excited for it. It’s always in a fun city, there are enough interesting researchers there to make it worthwhile, and enough people that I know go so that it’s a good mix of work and fun.
This year though, I can tell I’m in a totally different place. I’m glad to be going, but also glad that I’m only staying a couple of nights instead of the 4 or 5 nights I usually go for. I’m over it partly because I’ve finally discovered my niche in this research world, and have had the opportunity to attend much smaller, more intimate conferences and events where I get to meet really smart people. Of course, the other part is that The Little Red Haired Girl isn’t joining me at all this year (she usually tries to get away and join me for at least part of the conference) because of our pre-baby budgeting and vacation-day-saving. And not only is she not joining me, I also feel a little guilty or anxious leaving her home alone while she is wicked pregnant and we are preparing to move in a week. And, a couple of weeks ago when I went away for a conference, all kinds of shit went down that I wish I’d been there for. Ugh.
I guess this is the next stage of the shedding of my foot-loose and fancy-free life. At least I’m fortunate enough to have multiple things in my life going on that I want to be there for; that’s much better than having none.
