So the big news I wanted to share was that Big Ag interviewed for, and got, a position here locally as a vineyard manager. Finally he will be working and living in the same zip code! When we moved here in 2012 he decided he wanted to keep his job, which was a 65 mile drive from our home. For the most part, it worked out well, except on Fridays when the commute home was bogged down by the many tourists coming in to roost on the Central Coast for the weekend, and then it could end up being a two-hour haul stuck in back of a long line of recreational vehicles and people not used to driving through the curvy hillsides.
At the time we moved, we knew it was a sacrifice and one which he cheerfully made, in fact the commute was not why he left his other job. But it did occasionally make life more difficult for him, such as if he wanted to schedule a dentist appointment on the same day as he was working, or if we had an event to attend here. But more than anything, he wanted a new challenge, and I think growing grapes is going to provide that, as well as put him in a place with better air, better land and more water.
So starting next month his commute will probably probably 10 miles, tops. There are several vineyards he will be managing, one of which we can even see from the house.
The thing I am looking forward to the most is having him around more -- to occasionally be able to meet up for lunch or for him to stop in at the winery during the day just to say hello. And of course with losing the 12 hours per week he was driving to and from here and work, he'll be around a lot more anyway, both in the mornings and evenings.
And now we can both say we work in the wine business; he in growing, and me in serving and education!
In other wine news, the other night we watched the documentary, "A Year In Burgundy," and absolutely loved it. I highly recommend it, served with a nice Pinot Noir or Chardonnay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxoExRnzyaI
Congratulations to you both! I can sure understand the commute issue. The most I ever had to commute was a 50 mile round trip from my home, but your husband's was more than double that. It will be wonderful to work so close to home. Very happy for you and your husband.
ReplyDeleteThanks Molly. Even 50 miles is a long road to travel on a daily basis. It's the time out of your life that makes it a hard thing, in my opinion. And of course the more you're the road the more chances you'll be in a car accident. An hour-long commute or more costs a lot in both time, quality of life, and gas. Thanks for the good wishes!!
DeleteCongratulations to him!!! I was totally wrong! I thought it was either a grandbaby or sheep! 'tis the season for either :)
ReplyDeleteBut I'd imagine this will have a positive effect on things at your property. You two will have a lot more time to work together! And I don't know about your husband, but I know when I used to have a 45 min commute (I know that's driving about 20 feet in CA!), I needed a 'bracket' of time around my commute to just mentally decompress from dodging idiot drivers. I'd imagine this will really improve his day to day life. And yours!
This will be a HUGE and very positive change for us, and I'm just so happy he is going to be local. I love that he's in the wine business now, and will make work friends locally, as I have. And of course I can now meet him for lunch or he can come home and help me with something without needing to take the entire day off. But mainly I am hoping that the extra two hours a day he gets back will be used by him to enjoy life!
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