I'm in my mid-30s and mid-career in academia pondering a career change to try something new. While I feel solidly settled in Sacramento, I've lived in California for 6 years and in some ways, living in this state feels like a bit of a vacation still, which is a pretty special feeling. I bought a house in 2020 because of a change in my housing situation early in the pandemic and not wanting to negotiate COVID boundaries with someone new, I'm surprised to find that I've leaned into the whole domestic situation and fixing things up. I worked hard my first several years here to build a network of friends, and find at this stage in life I'm forming closer friendships based on shared activities, like golfing, paddleboarding, hiking, talking book recs, trivia nights, etc. I'd love to meet more folks who also like to get out and talk over shared hobbies.

I feel pretty fortunate overall. I can get a bit down the rabbit hole of wondering what else is out there to explore like I'm not doing enough, but I have a wonderful relationship with my mother and really close friends, and I really cherish that. The last few years were an unfortunate culmination of grief from the loss of a close family member plus burnout, but I'm coming out of it with slightly tentative excitement for whatever's next. Leaning into all of the fun outdoor stuff to get into in NorCal helps break up feelings of monotony.

I moved out here fresh out of a breakup and not knowing anyone, so I took up boxing. 6 years later and I still find it to be an incredible stress-reliever. That, and I'm an endless hobbyist. I love learning and trying new things.

I have toyed with the idea of quitting drinking for a while for a variety of reasons, so I'm 12 days sans alcohol and really trying to honor that as hard as it can be in social situations where it feels like you're the only one not partaking. That, and self-compassion. Recovering perfectionist over here.

That setting up drip irrigation is like adult legos, but with tubing and water. There's numerous ways to put it all together, so it’s surprisingly forgiving.

I'm in a phase where I'm reconciling my desires with my reality and deciding what I want my next phase of life to be like. I have a healthy orientation to work and balance it well with my personal life. But what kind of life work will be meaningful going forward? How I do I want this chapter of life to feel? It's exciting to have space and opportunity to think through the big questions.

It's good - peaceful, positive and drama free. I have friends, family and hobbies I enjoy.

Writing - creatively or in a journal, reading, learning something new, walks and laughing with loved ones keeps me sane and balanced. And when I get to travel or go to the coast it helps.

Loving family relationships, reciprocal and warm friendships, creativity and self-expression, freedom

The Equalizer is a getting a spinoff

I am right in the middle, somewhere between professional fulfillment and mid-life crisis. Gathered a baggage of life stories and ideas, grew out of a few things, hasn't grown into others. Prefer to think that I'm still open to everything new and exploring life, but maybe I just can't admit that I don't know where I'm headed.

Life's been pretty good, to the point of almost boring sometimes. I got an interesting job and great family, between which I keep alternating in an endless cycle work-home-work. Probably due to this cycle of life I started questioning what and where am I really in life and where it's all going.

My job and my hobbies are mostly creative, like writing or music, which helps to abstract from reality or create a sense of personal achievement. Kind of hooked on this feeling of 'moving somewhere' with what I am doing. Just recently discovered quite the opposite way - just stopping in the moment and meditating. Trying to balance those two modes now.

I am trying to provide some stability in life for my family, being a responsible adult etc. and at the same time leave some time for myself to grow and change for better. Trying to get personal space to pursue my own interests.

I've recently got back into reading and discovered a whole new fields I want to explore more and discuss: humanistic psychology, systems approach to sociology. On the lighter side of life - I can talk about music for hours.

I would say in the best part. I´m new to the states and to have the possibility to live and work in a different country is really exciting. Everyone around me gets Kids but I travel the world and make different experiences. I still have to do a bucket list for places to visit here. Ohh and also I'm 34

Good actually. Work is fullfilling and i have enough free time to see the country. The only thing missing is my friends and family around me so I´m in search for new friends. Sadly there are not alot of places where you can meet new people so I try it on the Internet.

Movies and Icecream helps alot but also the Idea that you can only change a limited amount of things but these are important. Also to get out see that the world that is surrounding you is not as toxic as it seems.

Friends and family but that is easy so I would choose my Visum for the US. It was long process, it nearly took me nearly 2 years but now I have it. I have the opportunity to live completely differently for a while and gain new perspectives on how I want to live my life

So, I´m a really 120% person if I find something interresting I dive deep in the topic and take money in my hands to get involved. A lot of DnD, a lot of movies especially horror latly but also photography, tabletop, hiking or cakes i love cakes.

I'm 30. I'm in a hell of a better place than I was 11 years ago. I work to have a better life for me and the people around me.

It's going well. I'm in a place that allows me time to be who I am on the weekends. Work is work. But when I get home to be a nerd playing games or building gundams it's nice.

Any of my hobbies.be it building the gundams,playing video games, joining a dnd campaign....or even making soap,painting,candles...anything crafty is just as nice.

My family. Which is mostly my siblings and my niece who just came into this world not long ago.

I got into magic the gathering...somewhat addicted....

Having recently moved solo to CA from my home state of MI, I’m sitting on a land mine of potential new beginnings. I currently have no ties to much of anything and I’m devoted to spending the course of the next year to exploring possible career options, finding my place in the community here, and making brand new connections in a bit of a different social culture. I just turned 21.

Things are pretty and peaceful at the moment. New beginnings have led me to a very blank canvas view on what’s ahead which is a refreshing sentiment. I’m content with my ordinary days but srsly looking forward to filling the space I’ve created with new experiences and deeper connections. I miss my small circle back home.

When my widths are thin I know it’s time take myself on a hike. The nature here is beyond competition with what I’ve had access to before and every second I don’t get to spend taking it all in is one more second I’m waiting to get out there. If I’m not going for a walk I’m sitting outside reading or fumbling my way through the same song on guitar for the 20th time.

It’s most important to me right now to re-learn how to live for myself! Having spent my late teens in towns I didn’t enjoy living in or relationships that kept me from realizing my own potential, my days are now 100% about indulging my inner child and doing whatever feels fulfilling in the moment. My top priority is being authentic so the building blocks of my near future start to come together in a way that sets me up for longer term happiness.

“What was the first fungus?” from History of the earth. Anything Ecology or Botany related is worth time thinking about, especially in the city of trees.

Creeping up on the big 5-0 and feeling it. Considering what would be my second career pivot but having a hard time with the unknowns. Enjoying the time I have with my kids in the interim. Always low-key interested in new friends and the adventures ahead.

Something about..I can’t complain. I’m a year out from losing my brother and then my mom a few months later. I’m starting to realize how much of that I’m still processing but processing, I am. Doing my best to funnel that energy into making them proud and ensuring my kids always remember the family members that loved them with everything.

Work. Both my 9-5 and the small businesses I operate. Live music. Lots of records. The amazing Caribbean restaurant and bar near my house.

Being the best dad I can. Doing what I can to protect my kids from the political nastiness that consumes our country. Improving my health and the health of my family. Making new friends when possible.

Well..it’s been 105°-110° for many weeks. So the most interesting thing I’ve encountered recently was an ice bath.