On Thursday I turn 34, and leave my early 30s behind forever. Mid thirties, here I come. Yikes. Mid 30s is the time of professional accomplishment, the earning years, family time. The time of exploration is over; now it's time to get done what it is you're supposed to do. It's a lot to live up to, the associations I have about this life stage. No more laughing, no more fun -- now it's time to Get Things Done. People in their mid thirties are Definitely Grown Ups. I was more grown up when I turned 30 than I am now -- rocketing along in my responsible professional career, a new home- and boat-owner, socking away savings. And I'm happier now, I think, although making sluggish and wobbly progress along a much less well-defined path. So it's hard for me to figure out what my path through the Mid 30s should look like.
Between this occasion (birthdays are always a time of self-reflection for me), and the end of the year with its inevitable assessment of 2006 and aspirations for 2007, and being here in a strange town with a new sweetie, I've been thinking a lot about what I want for the upcoming year. I'll blurt some of it out here.