2010 Recap
Another year, another recap. I covered 2009 previously, and now another year has passed.
Change was once again a big factor. While some people fear change, I gladly embrace it in my life because I know it will happen with our without my influence. Here are some of the big changes in my life in 2010.
I moved in with Meg
This was a pretty big step. I predicted last year that I would move out of my parents house, and it happened very early, in March of 2010. We live together in midtown in Houston and love our place. Wood floors, 2 bedrooms, and a short walk to some great places to eat. Aside from the long drive to work, we really love the new place and have really enjoyed living together.
Promotion at Schipul
This was also predicted, though I really didn’t comprehend how big of a step this would be. Leadership is much more than just navigating in a certain direction. My new position as product manager has me working with a great team to build a software product. I have loved the challenge thus far and am looking forward to more from this change in 2011.
Took a solo vacation to MaxFunCon
This was a real treat. I am a big fan of the internet, and some of the most creative and thought-provoking people on the web were at this tiny “conference” in California. It was probably too expensive, and I doubt I’ll get to go back in 2011, but it was a great experience that will not be forgotten anytime soon. One of the best takeaways was how much younger I was than most people there, which tells me I have plenty of time to keep up with the cool internet kids.
I spent more than I made
My stocks went up, my paycheck went up, but my net worth went down. I’ve been running Mint for a few years so I’ve got some history on the data, and the big difference this year was moving into an apartment. In NYC I was making pretty good money, and in 2009 I was living at home, so the cut in pay I took moving back to Texas combined with a pretty big extra expense each month has put me more in the red this year than in the black. It’s only a couple hundred bucks, but it’s a big deal to me. Financial stability will be something I work on in 2011.
I also got to travel to San Francisco and Washington D.C (twice) from trainings through Schipul, so I got to fly on some airplanes as predicted. I’ve learned project management, some Drupal tricks, and a bit of Django as well. Work has been a challenge, but I have continued to learn and read as I hoped to do.
I had a goal from last year to be more active, but that didn’t happen at all. Much like I lost money, I also gained weight. My brother has taken every opportunity he has to remind me of this. I quit my gym during the year because I didn’t ever go, and I just got a spin bike for Christmas so I am hoping that will get me motivated to get fit in 2011.
While I focused more on the moving part than the in with Meg part, it really has been a great year living with her. We are learning how to cook, how to keep our place clean, and how to run a home. I am looking forward to even more time spent with Meg in 2011.