Future Patty.

Well, it’s August, and years ago that would mean it was back-to-school time. This year - I’ve been thinking about jobs. Where do I want to be in a year? 5 years? Where’s my life going?

Savage is moving to Washington D.C. next week. Two summers ago she interned there and I went to visit her. She loved the city and she knew it really well and it was a place I could totally picture her living in. Well, after working at a company she despised for a year, she decided to go to grad school at American University in DC. It’s going to be super exciting and totally up her alley. (And I can’t wait to visit and see if that teenage couple is STILL outside the zoo hugging!)

I’ve thought about grad school. I had every intention of taking a year off to work and then go to NYU this fall and taking part in their Magazine Writing program. But, I thought about it, and I couldn’t justify pouring money into school that guarantees me nothing. I could move to NY and work for free at magazines I was interested in and gain valuable job experience. Plus, the economy is in the dumps and would school help me at all? For my interests – I don’t think so.

It seems everywhere I turn, people are moving in the next step. They’re thinking about the future: My sister just graduated law school and has taken the bar and is moving to New York in October to start her job at the oldest law firm in America. Jess graduated Dental Hygiene school and once her wrists are in working order again, she’ll be working as a hygienist in Boston! Evan’s moving to LA to start his new life – and whether he knows what he’s going to do or not, he’s moving in a new direction at least.

I’ve been at my job for over a year and I have no intention of leaving anytime soon. I’m doing a whole lot of improv – even though I’m not making money at it. Sure, it’s a process, and I don’t do it for the money. I absolutely love it. But would I count this as taking the next step in my career? I wrote a play this year, and I’m on the NXT cast, and with Awkward Compliment we landed a weekly show. I see these all as valuable steps in my career… yet, I still can’t afford to buy drinks this week. (Note how I say “drinks” instead of things like, “groceries” or “a decent meal”)

Maybe it really needs to go down to go up. And this isn’t to say I’m unhappy – I’m extremely happy and I’m having the time of my life. But, am I being financially immature? Am I cutting myself short when I could move to New York and start my career in writing? Or, could I write from here and have fun doing improv and performing. A big fish in a small pond, as they say.

What this basically comes down to is that all I really want for the future is this: to live in the Mad Men world and to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast with that giant library. Let's go to work.