Weighing My Options

Hello Everyone:

I still haven't decided if I want to participate in Sunday's planner exam. My thinking is "what's the point?"  Even if I pass the exam, it'll be months before the second round, if even that. I'd rather focus on doing something I want to do rather than an idea of what I want. The planner job is a career job with a lot of potential; not to mention good pay and benefits. I keep thinking is that why I really want this job?  The pay and benefits are good for fueling the engine of my world and that's about it. I guess I need more than a paycheck and benefits to make me happy at work. I need a sense of fulfillment and respect for the effort I put in. I need to know there's a future not just languishing just in one place.  Maybe this position has everything I want and need. What's the alternative?  Some whatever job and another round of grad school. I've been giving a second masters degree some serious thought. I'd like to go back for that degree in urban planning and design. I love the subject because it touches on a lot of things I'm interested in. Perhaps if I finally get this planner job, I can find out if they'll pay for it or at least continuing education units. The thing about grad school is that I'm a little soured on academia.     It's not that I had a bad experience, just the opposite as a matter of fact, what spits me on academia is thre current climate. Everyone seems to be so fragile that saying "good morning" can be taken as a micro-aggression. If I were to return to grad school, I like to focus on public health/sustainable cities, specifically on alcohol-addiction. I think this is where my historic preservation degree can be put to good use. I see no reason not to just go ahead get some whatever job and pursue that. City jobs aren't so quick to be filled and I need to move forward. As for Sunday, I'll think about a little more.