GROW UP

As I mentioned, I've recently come to realize the joys of job security with recently becoming permanently employed with the police service. It is surprising how much relief comes with knowing you don't have to worry about contracts and the giant boulder of unemployment hanging over your head, ready to drop at the first sign of recession. One of the beauty things about my job is that law enforcement is not an industry that will be going out of business any time soon.

The realization that hit me yesterday is that this is no longer just a job. This is a life and a career. What made me realize that so intensely? RRSPs and Pension plans.

A one hour meeting discussing my enrollment in the police pension plan, followed by talk of mutual funds, RRSP contributions, and life insurance knocked the point home. I found it slightly ironic that within 2 weeks of getting on permanently, we were talking about retirement. 30 years. Wow.

So now, after having slept till 11:30, while sitting in my apartment surrounded by half made paper monsters, drinking instant coffee out of a kitten-decal mug, preparing for a day off playing MarioKart in my pajamas...I am reading about whether I want to go with an Asset Allocation Fund or if I should build my own RRSP portfolio. Further, I have been trying to figure out what kind of investment style I have, if I'm prepared to take risks with my investments for higher gains.

There are pie charts.

I like pie.

In the words of the great sage, Jack Handy, "when you die, if you get a choice between real heaven and pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It may be a trap, but if it's not mmmmmmm pie".

Oh yeah. I'm totally ready for RRSPs.

Where to begin...

6 months since the last post. I'm not very good at this blogging thing.

At any rate, what a half year!! Anything before March, mind you, is not worth mentioning. It was a scary and hurtful three months that I'm happy are behind me. We'll leave it at that.

My roommate is nothing short of amazing. The last 4 months have been hilarious, and I couldn't ask for a better girlfriend to live with. And it's only going to get better from here. She is a lovely, caring, and strong person. We're both making a fresh start, living here, and she is the perfect person to move forward with. I'm so excited for all the things in store for her, and all the positive changes and events that have happened already.

Work went from great to amazing. There is something to be said for job security, and as of one week ago, I now get to enjoy the sense of relief that comes with knowing my job isn't going anywhere. Moving from contract to permanent is a huge load off my shoulders. It is also strange, in the best possible way, to be thinking now of a career rather than a job. That was the mentality I had going in back in November, but now it seems so much more real. There are still some things to get used to, office dynamics, work related stress, career path planning. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the reality of working in law enforcement and the reality of society and people. That will be for another post though.

As already mentioned, I had a visit from a very special someone:

Over the week we had together, we went on a harbour boat tour, something I've never done despite living downtown for years! It was a very new perspective on the skyline and the city, and you know, Toronto is a good lookin' place!

We revisited all our old haunts, Hemmingways, Korean BBQ, Shanghai Cowgirl, Horseshoe. All were just as we left them, and all were amazing. It was probably the company, though.

Naturally, we made our usual zoo trip. Always a good time, and this time, no 3 hour transit trips to get there! The simple joys that a car bring.

We drove out to Niagara for a couple of days. Unfortunately, the riches we had planned to win didn't quite come to fruition, but breaking even is a close second. A slow drive through wine country and Niagara on the Lake topped off the last day. It was an amazing way to end a too short visit. A vacation in a vacation.

For now, gentle readers, that will have to do.

Once again, I promise more regular updates.