Inspirations

My new mantra at work:

Take what you can use and let the rest go by.

--Ken Kesey

Quotes that have been inspiring me lately:

If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise.

--Robert Fritz

The essential conditions of everything you do must be choice, love, passion.

--Nadia Boulanger

Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.

--W.H. Murray

You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true, and also fierce, you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her.

--Winston Churchill

Where?

So, since I feel like I've got a pretty good idea of what I want to focus on career-wise, I decided I would try to figure out WHERE I want to be. I'll be moving this summer, but to where?

Instead of resolutions, I decided to create a list of requirements for the place I'll be living. I broke them down into geography and work environment.

Geography

• Mid-sized city (60,000 - 500,000-ish), or a large city that has distinct neighborhood areas
• Moving water (river, creek, whatever - if it's wet and moving, that's good)
• Cultural opportunities - access to museums (natural history, historical, art, etc), zoos, arboretums
• Nature access - green space, hiking/walking trails, nearby nature areas (state or national parks, national forest land, etc)
• Public transportation - bus system, light rail?, car sharing?, bike trails?
• Airport - if not in town, then nearby
• University - large enough for research opportunities

Bonus: in a valley with hills or mountains around; within 12-16 hours of Omaha; variety of housing (affordable); space for a garden

Work Environment

• Less hierarchical structure - more flattened, team-based, collaborative
• Work expectations established (things not run on favoritism, nepotism, or any other ism; things not changing constantly)
• Stable (or relatively stable) budget, with money dedicated for professional development
• Transparency (especially with the budget)
• Co-workers who meet standards for competence
• Co-workers with skills/experience/knowledge they are willing to share (mentors)
• Professionalism, organization, flexibility, respect

Bonus: co-workers I like and respect; stable, upbeat environment; people who are curious and continue to learn; learning and professional development are valued (especially in terms of time and money)