Going Home Again

HeadshotThe 6-month contract at Qualcomm is coming to an end next week. This week will be a busy one! Lots of packing, and getting rid of stuff we’ve accumulated (mostly for comfort) in our one-bedroom apartment.

And still a substantial amount to get done on the job before I leave, so I will actually be working right up to the bell.

Raleigh, NC is a fairly pleasant small city. The Raleigh-Durham area totals not much bigger than Plano. For a capitol city, Raleigh is surprisingly small (although the Research Triangle Park area is one of the fastest-growing in the south). Last summer was relatively cool, and winter hasn’t really gotten started here yet, other than a few light dustings of frost. Coming from a drought area, it seems to me that it rains a lot in Raleigh. Mostly long, steady, light to medium rain. Folks here don’t need to water their lawns much.

Qualcomm is a pretty good place to work, and the work is technically challenging. They treat their employees quite well. I would recommend it to just about anybody seeking that sort of work, especially if you have a hardware and/or embedded systems background. If you fit in that category, drop me an email — I might even get a finder’s fee from the shop.

Speaking of shops, my shop was Carlton National. They seem to be decent folks, and they did a good job of making sure that I got paid the right amount and always on time — which are the most important things a shop can do, aside from finding the contract in the first place.

All that said and done, I’m ready to go home. I miss my violin students. I know that Maestro Keeley has been taking good care of my students, because they have told me about it. I also miss the New Texas Symphony Orchestra. And my Lions Club. And many other little things.

Saving the best for last, I just landed a part-time telecommuting gig, which means that I will not be bound by geography for that assignment. This will be my first time to join a “virtual” company, and I am really stoked about the possibilities. I firmly believe that remote work is the only arrangement for knowledge workers that really makes economic sense (Melissa Mayor notwithstanding). I also strongly suspect that the part-time aspect of this new job is a big plus. One of the things that I discovered on the last part-time contract I had was that the limitation on the hours was invigorating, and helped me focus. I certainly hope that it works out that way with this one.

Home again, home again, jiggidy jog!

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