Cowboy Caleb the liberal arts, grown-up stuff & random mischief

Another Fork In The Road, But The Road Goes On and On

I stood by the road trying to hail a cab. On the pavement were two large paperbags stuffed to the brim with my files, documents and knick-knacks accumalated over a period of 3 years. Just 10 minutes ago, I finished making my rounds to all my colleagues to say goodbye. They gave me gifts, wished me luck and were genuinely sad to see me leave.

You see, I’ve quit my job.

Goodbye nice stable, boring, set-for-life job. Farewell to my spacious office with a view of the sea. So long to all my colleagues who I call friends whose name is legion. Ciao, ciao, ciao.

Hello to my new stressful job (the HR director had to invite me out for coffee to give me an accurate picture of the story thus far lest I join in vain) which comes with high risk of failure, small office to be shared, absolutely no user manual and so much travelling required that I will probably be living out of a suitcase when the time comes.

Hello to having to rent another place to be closer to my office which is so far away from my current place, even Frodo would shudder to have to bear the One Ring all the way there by foot.

Hello to spending less time with my wife, only 1 month after my marriage.

So why oh why have I done this?

It’s simple - better money and career prospects. This is the next level in my career. If I pull this off, we’ll be able to have kids. Of course we can have kids now- but we want to have kids, our way. All the things that were denied to us when we were little because of financial constraints, we want our kids to have. A nice house with a garden. Ballet, tennis, swimming, art, golf and riding lessons. An education at a prestigious instituition. Nice clothes. Enough pocket money. A laptop, PDA, Handphone, etc.

All that takes money. We don’t want to have kids unless we can afford to give them the best.

I could stay in my current job, and slowly work towards a promotion and end my days here. But that wouldn’t be fair to my family. So I’ve come out of my comfort zone and am taking some (calculated) risks.

Wisk me luck - I’ll need it.

God Bless You!

This part of sg isn’t all that obscure. I’m one sms/email/call away from lunch (if u’re looking :D )

Btw, am touched by what you said about providing the best for your kids. I’ve been taught (by Mandy) to say, ‘MAY YOU BE BLESSED WITH MANY DOTTERS!!!’

all the best. it takes courage to move out of your comfort zone. it’s comforting though that you’re doing this so you can provide the best for your kids. they’ll be a blessed bunch.

best of luck cowboy! im sure there wld be many rodeo adventures to come with this new job. Any cows or horses came with it too?

Oei. Don’t spoil your kids hor. Careful not to turn them into the Gen Z monsters :X

Anyway, how come so fast! I was just telling Mandrake to ask you out for drugs when the new coffee joint near our workplace opens. Damn!

good luck cowboy. will be there to support you

Hey all the best Cowboy!
No fight, no glory!!! hehe im sure ur wifey is so proud of you =D

erm, sounds like u were in the force?

wow.. all the best! no matter the path you walk in, live it to the fullest and you will look back with no regrets.

Seriously, your kids don’t need “Ballet, tennis, swimming, art, golf and riding lessons.” They just need books. And clothes and pocket money. And the internet, of course.

Good luck.

die lah. you sound like a kiasu parent with spoilt kids already.
indeed, there’s no hope for the human race.

You’re working on the goal and dreams of so many others.
You’ll get there.

A small sacrifice to make, in order to create a better lifestyle for the future generation…Wishing you luck, dude!

dont worry… i’m sure everything will turn out great!

congrats on the new job!

Your blog is getting more and more boring.

> Your blog is getting more and more
> boring.

Yaaaaaah lor.

Inevitably, the gonzo journal will descend into the mrbrown style of mushy, tear-jerking stories of family love and togetherness, with accompanying photos of cuddly babies.

sigh*… I really miss the days when cowboy was less mellow, and more angsty and self-pitying.

It is the passing of an era.

Haaaaaiz.

(wahahhahahahahaa…)

That’s the only way to go man. I am in the same situation as you were. No choice, have to do it. It is better to suffer now and secure a better future than to suffer when you’re in old age.

Sometimes the best to you may not be the best for them.

Hey, we all have our roads to take. Not always are they the ones less taken, but having the choice makes all the difference.

all the best cowboy =)

err..my bro did dat and now he’s going thru a divorce and are in debts as he bought houses and shop lots for the 3 kids…i totally agree wif leon…good luck though :) cheers

err..my bro did dat and now he’s going thru a divorce and are in debts as he bought houses and shop lots for the 3 kids…i totally agree wif leon…good luck though :) cheers

good luck cowboy! all the best..

u dont know how to use the dictionary or u juz retarded?

good luck man !! yep kids wear your wallet out…but it’s worth it.

good luck man!! choices we have in life. and i like the way you readily embrace it. good for you! happy new year. let all the luck wash through your doors and STAY.

Wish u luck in yor quest for more, Caleb. In life, when there are gains, they will be loss. Simplicity is always the hardest to sustain, but easiest to achieve. Life can be well and fun, minus all the Bling-Bling..
Just know when to stop, when u find that its gets too tough on yor side. Life need not be that tiring, enjoy it while u can yar. =)

wah lau.. change jobs ahh.. shiok la.. but i tink the best things u cna ever give u child, is not wat money can buy but is actually money itself.. Children need love, far above everything else.. material possessions are not really everything.. the physical love from their parents means the world to them.. So dun worry abt not having enuff to provide for them.. more imptly dun haf an elitist tinkin pattern like our ruling party lor..

Best wishes for the new job.

Good luck Mr Caleb. All the best.

I too want the best and to provide everything that my gf (to be married) wants, and am willing and planning to do what needs to be done to be able to provide.

Also to that end, I am materialistic, but that’s another story.

All the best.

I wish you well.

Good Luck…… and Of course best wishes for the future… : )

sorry i jus got back from a long break and i saw tis entry. hey, hope you are having fun in your new job now. changes are always good, it keeps you breathing. all da best mate :)